Project # 15 PBL Plan #3

Education should be customized based on the student you are teaching at the time and what they are good at intrinsically and are passionately drawn to in life. The standardized model of education is all wrong and learning would prove to be infinitely successful if it were allowed to be more natural and organic. According to Sir Ken Robinson, “We have to change from an industrial model to an agricultural model, where each school can be flourishing tomorrow.” Parents, teachers and administrators will be afforded the opportunity to bear witness to a child’s dreams. How can we foster the growth and development of said dreams? It is our greatest responsibility to find a way.

“Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths Of night and light and the half light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.” ― W.B. Yeats, The Wind Among the Reeds 1899

Project # 12 Part A

Blog Post # 9

What can we learn from Mrs. Cassidy?



Mrs. Cassidy is a professional and a teacher whom we can learn a great deal from. I enjoyed learning about the ways Mrs. Cassidy uses technology in her classroom. What a wonderful advantage she has given the children in her class to become familiar with the tools of technology and encouraging writing using said tools. I believe the use of computer science should be one of the foremost concepts taught in today’s educational system. I personally have been computer illiterate in the past but I am learning to use these new materials slowly but surely.

Children today are being left behind if they are not afforded the opportunity to learn and participate in the educational process through the use of computers and technology. Mrs. Cassidy has been implementing the use of computers and blogging for ten years now and to the betterment of her students. While watching the children use computers and IPods and different programs, I was amazed at how confident they were and looked completely capable as well. Mrs. Cassidy has gone above and beyond what an average teacher could, by preparing her class for this ever expanding global community. I think the world of education should and is following in her footsteps, some faster than others. I plan on using a tool called Glogster in the future because who wants to read in a dusty old text book or write using pencil and paper anyway. I think the educational possibilities are endless because the speed at which the technological market is changing there are ample programs, apps, and teaching and learning strategies coming available for our use in schools. The question is not if we as teachers should utilize these technological materials, but when because the time is now.

Blog Post # 8

Find some 21st Century Learning and Communicating Tools? Tell us about them. Tell us where we can find them. Give a thorough review of at least one of them.



There are many different programs that are purchased for schools each year. One that I have found very beneficial is a program called IXL Math. This tool allows children who have internet at home to log into their account and work toward mastery of the Common Core math standards for their particular grade. This program may also be used for remediation and enrichment, as all grade levels are secured on this site. The student will move through whichever subject they want or the teacher and parent may suggest individual concepts. As the goals are met the student will earn rewards and trophies. There is a visual representation; a picture of a treasure chest, to show all skills completed and what the child is working to attain in the future. A percentage is shown on the page to allow instant access to current grade point percentage. This feature allows the child to gage where their performance level is at presently and where they should make improvements. This tool can be utilized as a whole group lesson on the Smart Board or a class may be taken to the computer lab to hone their skills. The children are working to master objectives aligned with Common Core in a fun and relatively simple way using this convenient program. The last point for consideration is a very effective log system which sends the teacher a report for every skill practiced, the problems attempted and time on task for each individual student. A teacher may then encourage those who have not practiced certain skills to try and complete those standards before moving on to the next. I think this is a program that will become very popular within the educational system, much like the current reading programs used to promote reading.

Project # 14

C4T #2 Summary

I commented on a blog called 21apples for C4T #2. I really found the videos on this blog profound and thought provoking. I think the first video reaffirms something we all know but choose to ignore; we are inundated with social media and technology, sometimes to the detriment of our relationships. I have been guilty of ignoring the outside world and in the not so distant past becoming completely absorbed in social media. I think like most good things moderation is the key and overindulgence is killing our ability to connect to each other in real instances.











The next post I commented on was about a young boy who comes to the conclusion; he doesn’t want to eat his lunch because it is made from an animal. The child is speaking very intuitively to his mother about the fact that we should take care of animals not eat them. The mother allows him to make his own determination about the consumption of animal products. I was moved at the pure honesty of the little boy and the perceptiveness of his mother to enable the child to reach his conclusion. 21apples author posted this comment:

“sometimes our job is just to get out of the way.”

Project #9

Project # 13

This concept could easily be applied to any grade, given our new technology. The teacher must be willing to give up a little control, allowing the children creative control, and the administrators must be onboard in order to give the teacher the freedom to explore such projects. According to Mr. Pausch, every two weeks there is evidence for the effectiveness of the role each group member played and a system for grading their work. Mr. Pausch states,

“That’s hard feedback to ignore,” causing the educator to give the best gift they can give; getting somebody to become self reflective.”

When you are aware of mistakes you are making, a person who is willing can make the necessary changes or improvements to ensure a better quality product or outcome. This teacher believed in this way of learning and worked hard to produce amazing results. He believed in his students, in a way not unlike the way his mentors believed in him. The head of his university, President Cohon, reminds him “Tell them about having FUN” and sometimes the students will not even realize they are learning because the fun masks the real objective. Mr. Pausch states: Decide if you are a Tigger or an Eeyore. Are you going to take a positive outlook and make things fun or are you going to be negative and focus on what can and will go wrong. What a very moving message this dying man leaves as the final piece of his legacy. A teacher can and should hope to leave an imprint on the world as substantial as Mr. Pausch has in his lifetime.

C4K Summary February

My first Comment for Kids post was for a student named Morgan in Mrs. Schneider’s class. The student was researching the case for the health benefits and longevity of life attained by a pet owner. I asked the student to visit the CDC’s website for more information, there is an article listed there about some interesting research supporting the thesis statement the student posted.



The next comment within this assignment was for Mathew in Mrs. Caddy’s class. He posted a snippet about why he enjoys using technology, mainly for homework questions. I left a comment about the importance of the internet when one is stuck on a troubling question. There is a wealth of knowledge waiting for us all we need to do is ask.



The third comment was for Cassidy in Mrs. Reuter's Class Blog. This student left a very entertaining post on the way people get on her nerves, especially during testing. I gave Cassidy some feedback on my experiences with testing and distracting noises. I also left a quote for her to think on,

“Patience is the companion of wisdom.” ~St. Augustine

For my last comment for this assignment, I chose Pickle and his fictional narrative titled: “story.” It is a tale about a group of kids meeting up at a haunted house and being frightened and murdered by the likes of Freddy, Jason and Mama and her children. Here is my response:

“Hey there! I am a student at the University of South Alabama and I have been assigned to comment on your blog. Great narrative about what would happen if Freddy, Jason and Mama with kids in tow just so happen to be haunting the same house. This story really put a horrifying picture in my mind about the grizzly scenario that could play out if those forces combined! I like the way you described Freddy’s and Jason’s actions’ in the end of your story. It reminds me of a particular style of story my family and I tell on camping trips. Someone starts a ghost story, and then they pause and pick someone else to take over the next portion. The story may end up silly or really scary, whatever your preference. As far as I can tell from your last line you may have a sequel in store for us all. Good job."

I really enjoyed reading the first of the four blog posts by kids; it’s great to see what they are creating and how technology is being used today.