Blog Post #13

After watching Back to the Future , I will attempt to illustrate how "one topic can encompass a huge range of learning" in Mr. Crosby's video and in A Vision of Students Today. I thought both videos were excellent examples something that should be a basic skill for all teachers, crossing curriculums. Being the "Grammar Nazi" that I am, I often found myself incorporating a lot of English and Literature into my History class - I always tried my hardest to fit some Science and Math, but it wasn't always possible.

In Mr. Crosby's video he not only was teaching Science (and Science standards), but he was also teaching Technology, Language, Networking, Social Studies, Reading and Citizenship. It's obvious that they were learning Science through their studies and experiments, but these students barely new where they lived when the class started. Through their blogging, wiki, and internet usage, they broaden their knowledge not just nationally but globally. It was also through this process that they bettered their technology skills and also became "networked students". Through blogging, they also improved reading language skills. They are becoming more well-rounded, and it is creating a path to prepare them for jobs of the future (and also meeting the standards dictated by the state). I thought the most poignant statement made in the entire video came near the end, when Mr. Crosby said that this new type of learning was creating a future that some students may have never had. Overall, I loved the video. I could tell he was really enthusiastic, but I wish he could have slowed his speech in some parts. Great contribution to our class!

In the video from Kansas State University, I felt like it was from the other end of the spectrum that Mr. Crosby was talking about. These are the kids that have had more opportunities, but it was still an excellent example of how they covered a wide-range of topics. These were students that were not only learning from their studies, they were learning honesty, statistics, cooperation, and reflection. While I think it's obvious how I think how all these blend, I think that it's also important that these students are recognizing how lucky they have been. They are learning honesty, statistics, and cooperation through their surveys, but reflection (a key element in the world of academia)is probably new to them. They are also becoming citizens of the world through their final reflections by asking for the change they desire. They are multi-taskers, why can't their teachers be as well?

What I Want my Students to.....



1. To know.... I want my students to know what they have available to them, to be able to use information they have at their fingertips, to be able to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information, and most importantly be able to rely on me for help with this shift in leaning (there will be many times we have to learn together).

2. To Be able to do.... While I want them to be independent learners, I also want them to use their imagination beyond what they think they are capable of. I want them to email, use Wikis, blog, search, create and reflect.

3. To have experienced....This is a big one. I was them to experience it all! It's through the impact of technology that they will be able to experience things I never got to as a student. Not only do I want them to experience a meaningful education experience and everything I have stated above, I also want them to experience times and places throughout history that they couldn't before now. I want them to go back in time and experience the chaos following the Boston Tea Party, the horror in Nazi Germany, and the revealing after President Kennedy was elected President. We can all do these things!

Reflection I would love to make a video just for a introduction to a history class. I would first pose a question about how I could help them become more fond of History in the classroom. Followed by questions concerning creating a personal email account for my class. I would them introduce them to several historical figures that would stand-out to them. They could design a blog as their favorite history figure. I have always felt that students could learn history better by reading the history text more like a novel. They could report on their blogs from their figures point of view. It would change over the semester to past, present, and future. Not only would it have them using more technology and being creative, it would give them a new perspective on the timeline of major historical events. I would like them to keep their blogs anonymous until the end of the term. As part of their final, they could create a final project as their character and reveal themselves. They would have assignments to explore each other's blogs throughout the semester.

Technology Toolkit

This is Dorothy Burt's Toolkit List. I will "bold-face" everything I can do...

All our teachers are able to:

check an email account daily and manage it efficiently
use a computer or laptop and trouble shoot basic functions ie on/off, connect to P/I
use the internet to search, find information and to communicate
particpate in online environments eg blogs or forums or Nings or Trademe or Facebook
manage music files in software eg in iTunes
manage photo files using software
download photos from a camera
use a word processing document efficiently
store and retrieve data from a hard drive eg your computer
access Google Docs
edit a short video clip using simple software

All our teachers are able to use the following independently:

video camera
still camera
laptop
cellphone

All our teachers will need to learn quickly (with help available) once on the job:

administer a student blog ie upload content, manage commenting, manage student use
edit online pages e.g blog or Google sites or KnowledgeNet
social networking
store and retrieve from network
Google Apps - personally and with students
how record and edit audio
a graphics programme your level of students is using
create a basic presentation eg Keynote or Google or Prezi or Powerpoint
MacOS basics
saving files in a variety of file formats (e.g .mov,.dv, .jpg, .aiff, .doc etc)
student management system
printing to networked copiers
use of sound field
use of data projector
use PhotoBooth

I think to make the most beneficial learning environment for our students that this is just a basic list. It should be more expanded into content.

After reading At the Teacher's Desk and watching the accompanying video, I was truly inspired. He's advocating on how technology can engage ALL learners. The little boy is blind. I believe Webb was saying that he was a somewhat reluctant learner because of his disability. They have finally reached him! This is awesome! I have heard of how iPads have helped with Autistic children. There are so many ways to reach all children with technology - it is their language.


Jenny She is a teacher that loves to use technology and social media in her classroom. She lives in New Zealand. I have been following her on Twitter since the beginning of the semester. Big fan of using the iPad in the classroom.