Sunday, September 27, 2009
Playing in the dirt again!
Well when I returned to my house last night around 12:30am I saw many random presents in my yard. This afternoon I spent some quality time with dad planting the many new presents that I found in my yard. My house now looks like a home! I now have three trees in my backyard and three crape myrtle plants on the side of the house. Then as I was winding down from my hard day of work in the yard this boy came walking down the hill behind my house and tried to use my side yard as a walk through. I think I had horns form as I opened the back door and asked the kid if my yard looked like a walk through. I proceeded to ask the obvious about why did he think he was sinking into the damp soil...he looked at me like a normal high schooler....uh, I don't know!?! So I proceeded to inform this young man of the recent days of torrential downpour and the effects that excess water has on the ground. Then I told him to turn around and walk back up the hill he just came down. He looked at me with that normal high schooler look yet again...the are you serious look...and I answered him, 'yes, walk back up the hill!" He walked back up the hill and got to the street and turns around to see if he could come back down and take the cut through, but I had parked my behind in a chair and was just looking at him. HA!!! Other than that...Radhika...no chocolate for me...ha!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Module 2 Blog Posting:
The element I wish to expand upon is the idea of global diversity. Global diversity is an element that has been evolving really since the introduction of the world wide web. Sending information via regular mail could take days to even months depending on where the information was coming from and where the information was going. The idea of global diversity really stems from a person’s willingness to learn and be taught by others outside their natural living space. Most teachers get their collaboration from other teachers at their same school or other local schools where they have friends working. So most ideas are not really fresh and sometimes it is hard to be creative in situations like these so someone thought – why not be able to collaborate with someone outside my normal social system and get new, fresh ideas?!!? Thus the idea of global diversity within teachers started. This idea is not only shared with teachers, but businesses, churches, etc – anyone who is interested in learning what is best for their group and/or business. There are a few sites that are proactive is creating networks for teachers to collaborate and share ideas. These sites include Facebook – yes, Facebook, there is an application called I Am Teacher, a website called Taking It Global (http://www.tigweb.org/), and a few blog sites such as 11 Essential tools for global collaboration (http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2009/09/11-essential-tools-for-global.html), and Read, Write, Mix, Rip, and… Burn, Baby, Burn: Notes on How Social Media Affects Conventional Teaching and Learning Practices (http://eduspaces.net/csessums/weblog/151698.html). Also some tools to help with facilitating global discussions are: Skype, twitter, elluminate, and office live (Davis, 2009). Davis (2008 & 2009) is all about global diversity and exchanging ideas. Her blog is very useful and packed with information that will take days to shift through and pick out which is the useful tools for each individual person. Sessums (2006) also is an advocate of global diversity and global thinking. He makes a very valid in his blog about how do we all fit together (Sessums, 2006). We have gone from simplistic ideas to now very complex and detailed – so how do we make all this new information fit together. I think sometimes we feel, I know I feel, a little overwhelmed with all the new and innovative ideas, but we need to learn to take we like, try it and if it works great and if not try something else. The key is always being willing to try something else. Teaching is not an idea that is fixed in stone, just like businesses, teachers need to be willing to try something different that will create success in the end. This success is the student learning and for them to continually thirst for more.
References:
Allison, P. (2009, March 16th). Taking It Global with TIGed, Retrieved September 22, 2009, from http://teachersteachingteachers.org/?p=204.
David, V. (2009, September 15). 11 Essential tools for global collaboration. Retrieved September 22, 2009, from http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2009/09/11-essential-tools-for-global.html.
Davis, V. (2008, March 28). The Five Phases of Flattening a Classroom. Retrieved September 22, 2009, from http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2008/03/five-phases-of-flattening-classroom.html.
Sessums, C. (2006, February 6). Read, Write, Mix, Rip, and… Burn, Baby, Burn: Notes on How Social Media Affects Conventional Teaching and Learning Practices. Retrieved September 22, 2009, from http://eduspaces.net/csessums/weblog/151698.html.
Taking it global. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2009, from http://www.tigweb.org/.
The element I wish to expand upon is the idea of global diversity. Global diversity is an element that has been evolving really since the introduction of the world wide web. Sending information via regular mail could take days to even months depending on where the information was coming from and where the information was going. The idea of global diversity really stems from a person’s willingness to learn and be taught by others outside their natural living space. Most teachers get their collaboration from other teachers at their same school or other local schools where they have friends working. So most ideas are not really fresh and sometimes it is hard to be creative in situations like these so someone thought – why not be able to collaborate with someone outside my normal social system and get new, fresh ideas?!!? Thus the idea of global diversity within teachers started. This idea is not only shared with teachers, but businesses, churches, etc – anyone who is interested in learning what is best for their group and/or business. There are a few sites that are proactive is creating networks for teachers to collaborate and share ideas. These sites include Facebook – yes, Facebook, there is an application called I Am Teacher, a website called Taking It Global (http://www.tigweb.org/), and a few blog sites such as 11 Essential tools for global collaboration (http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2009/09/11-essential-tools-for-global.html), and Read, Write, Mix, Rip, and… Burn, Baby, Burn: Notes on How Social Media Affects Conventional Teaching and Learning Practices (http://eduspaces.net/csessums/weblog/151698.html). Also some tools to help with facilitating global discussions are: Skype, twitter, elluminate, and office live (Davis, 2009). Davis (2008 & 2009) is all about global diversity and exchanging ideas. Her blog is very useful and packed with information that will take days to shift through and pick out which is the useful tools for each individual person. Sessums (2006) also is an advocate of global diversity and global thinking. He makes a very valid in his blog about how do we all fit together (Sessums, 2006). We have gone from simplistic ideas to now very complex and detailed – so how do we make all this new information fit together. I think sometimes we feel, I know I feel, a little overwhelmed with all the new and innovative ideas, but we need to learn to take we like, try it and if it works great and if not try something else. The key is always being willing to try something else. Teaching is not an idea that is fixed in stone, just like businesses, teachers need to be willing to try something different that will create success in the end. This success is the student learning and for them to continually thirst for more.
References:
Allison, P. (2009, March 16th). Taking It Global with TIGed, Retrieved September 22, 2009, from http://teachersteachingteachers.org/?p=204.
David, V. (2009, September 15). 11 Essential tools for global collaboration. Retrieved September 22, 2009, from http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2009/09/11-essential-tools-for-global.html.
Davis, V. (2008, March 28). The Five Phases of Flattening a Classroom. Retrieved September 22, 2009, from http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2008/03/five-phases-of-flattening-classroom.html.
Sessums, C. (2006, February 6). Read, Write, Mix, Rip, and… Burn, Baby, Burn: Notes on How Social Media Affects Conventional Teaching and Learning Practices. Retrieved September 22, 2009, from http://eduspaces.net/csessums/weblog/151698.html.
Taking it global. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2009, from http://www.tigweb.org/.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Shelby had her foot surgery this past Tuesday and is doing well now. She goes back to the vet every 2-3 days to get the bandages changed. There is a high possibility for infection so the vet wants to make sure all is good with her. The bandages can not get wet and well since it has been raining every day for the past week...Shelby is not too happy about the Glad press n seal that she gets put on her foot in addition to this massive plastic bag that gets tied around her ankle. Yeah she hates it! But she will allow you to touch her foot now, which is a good sign, but she has earned the right to wear her "lampshade" while she is in the house. If the plastic wrap is off, she goes to town licking and bitting at her paw.
Other than that went shopping for a collar for Koko yesterday with dad. He found one he liked and it pretty much fits Koko's personality already. Very bright with hearts, peace signs, and smiley faces - that basically wraps up Koko - well, except for the peace - she is always jumping on Shelby or Sparky to get them to play.
Matt closes on his house some time next month so you know what that means....Sarah get to help move again! Matt will not have the issues I have with kids running through his yard since it is over grown and he backs into a forest. I had one kid run straight across my backyard this morning...and when I told him not to do it again he looked at my like I did not do it...oh I so wanted to hurt him. Then I had 3 other kids walk through my side yard where water collects and I got out there right as they were going through the puddles and was what are you doing? I thanked them for walking through an area I was trying to get stuff to grow and now they had killed it all...again they were like uh, sorry...I am an idiot and do not know what sidewalks are used for now-a-days. I can not wait for the first homeowners meeting! Oh, and my neighbor finally cut the grass about a week ago - I had only cut mine 3 times before she decided it might be good for her to cut it. Instead of picking up the grass clipping or sweeping them of the sidewalk they are still there - it has been about 2 weeks now. What was the purpose of all those by-laws in my homeowners? Yeah, nothing but words!
Other than that went shopping for a collar for Koko yesterday with dad. He found one he liked and it pretty much fits Koko's personality already. Very bright with hearts, peace signs, and smiley faces - that basically wraps up Koko - well, except for the peace - she is always jumping on Shelby or Sparky to get them to play.
Matt closes on his house some time next month so you know what that means....Sarah get to help move again! Matt will not have the issues I have with kids running through his yard since it is over grown and he backs into a forest. I had one kid run straight across my backyard this morning...and when I told him not to do it again he looked at my like I did not do it...oh I so wanted to hurt him. Then I had 3 other kids walk through my side yard where water collects and I got out there right as they were going through the puddles and was what are you doing? I thanked them for walking through an area I was trying to get stuff to grow and now they had killed it all...again they were like uh, sorry...I am an idiot and do not know what sidewalks are used for now-a-days. I can not wait for the first homeowners meeting! Oh, and my neighbor finally cut the grass about a week ago - I had only cut mine 3 times before she decided it might be good for her to cut it. Instead of picking up the grass clipping or sweeping them of the sidewalk they are still there - it has been about 2 weeks now. What was the purpose of all those by-laws in my homeowners? Yeah, nothing but words!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The need to evolve education into the coming centuries is a point that Simonson ( 2000), Moller, L., Forshay, W., & Huett, J (2008, May & July), and Huett, J. Moller, L., Forshay, W., & Coleman, C. (2008, September) all make in their articles. I would argue that I agree with the majority of their beliefs concerning technology, education, and online learning. Most online degree programs were considered not a competent way to earn a degree and a majority of that reason was there were not enough quality educators who were in a position to develop the early online programs (Moller, Foshay, Huett, 2008, May). However, with the definition of the “tradition student” ever changing the need for quality online education is being pursued by accredited universities for many reasons. One of the main reasons colleges and universities are pursuing online education degree programs is the learners are asking for these programs and improving these programs will help to keep them in business (Moller, Foshay, & Huett, 2008, July). Online education used to be judged by the amount of hours a learner would log and the information was lacking “basic principles of instructional design” (Moller, Foshay, & Huett, 2008, May). Because of this lack of instructional design, online or distance education had become a place for credit recovery of information that was initially not learned (Huett, J. et. al, 2008). Simplicity and ease is what society craves (Huett, J. et. al, 2008), but in order to create this online education in which learners are asking, society’s opinion must change. The only way to change society’s opinion of online education verse face-to face education is the equivalency theory (Simonson, 2000). “Equivalency is achieved through a variety of learning experiences that are tailored to the environment and situation in which students find themselves” (Simonson, 2000). Giving online instruction can sometimes make the student feel disconnected with the teacher, but there are many technologies that can capture the teacher and the information for the online learner. There are many blogs and websites that provide information for the teacher who wish to learn how to create a better online learning experience. Some of these websites include: Computer-Using Educators (www.cue.org), the thinking stick (http://www.thethinkingstick.com/), and twelve essentials for technology technology innovations (http://content.yudu.com/Library/A18dcc/TwelveEssentialsforT/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yudu.com%2Fitem%2Fdetails%2F59772%2FTwelve-Essentials-for-Technology-Integration). Steve Dickie (2009) informs his readers in his blog about a new technology that seems impressive and very useful to the online learner. This technology is the LiveScribe Pulse pen and it is very cool! Basically what this technology does is create an electronic copy of your notes along with recording an audio lecture. This would be very helpful for a mathematics class so students could follow how a professor works through problems. As an online learner instead of working through many problems by myself and looking through a book, I could be walked through problems by my professor while sitting at home. I am getting the necessary information I need to succeed and the university is getting their money they need to stay open. A great mutualistic relationship is born!
References:
Computer-Using Educators, Inc. (2009, September 8). Retrieved September 16, 2009,
from http://www.cue.org/.
Byrne, R. (n.d.) Twelve essentials for technology innovations. Retrieved September 16,
2009, from
http://content.yudu.com/Library/A18dcc/TwelveEssentialsforT/resources/index.ht
m?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yudu.com%2Fitem%2Fdetails%2F59772
%2FTwelve-Essentials-for-Technology-Integration.
Dickie, S. (2009, September 13). Teaching with technology. Retrieved September 16,
from http://falconphysics.blogspot.com/.
Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Coleman, C. (2008, September). The Evolution of
Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the
Web. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 52(5), 63-
67. Retrieved September 16, 2009, doi:10.1007/s11528-008-0199-9
Moller, L., Forshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008, May). The evolution of distance education:
implications for instructional design on the potential of the web. TechTrends:
Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 52(3), 70-75. Retrieved
September 12, 2009, doi:10.1007/s11528-008-0158-5.
Moller, L., Forshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008, May). The evolution of distance education:
implications for instructional design on the potential of the web. TechTrends:
Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 52(3), 70-75. Retrieved
September 12, 2009, doi:10.1007/s11528-008-0158-5
Simonson, M. (2000, Winter). Making decisions: the use of electronic technology in
online classrooms. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, Retrieved
September 12, 2009, from Academic Search Premier Database.
Utecht, J. (2009, September 16). The learning stick. Retrieved September 16, 2009, from
http://www.thethinkingstick.com/.
References:
Computer-Using Educators, Inc. (2009, September 8). Retrieved September 16, 2009,
from http://www.cue.org/.
Byrne, R. (n.d.) Twelve essentials for technology innovations. Retrieved September 16,
2009, from
http://content.yudu.com/Library/A18dcc/TwelveEssentialsforT/resources/index.ht
m?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yudu.com%2Fitem%2Fdetails%2F59772
%2FTwelve-Essentials-for-Technology-Integration.
Dickie, S. (2009, September 13). Teaching with technology. Retrieved September 16,
from http://falconphysics.blogspot.com/.
Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Coleman, C. (2008, September). The Evolution of
Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the
Web. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 52(5), 63-
67. Retrieved September 16, 2009, doi:10.1007/s11528-008-0199-9
Moller, L., Forshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008, May). The evolution of distance education:
implications for instructional design on the potential of the web. TechTrends:
Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 52(3), 70-75. Retrieved
September 12, 2009, doi:10.1007/s11528-008-0158-5.
Moller, L., Forshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008, May). The evolution of distance education:
implications for instructional design on the potential of the web. TechTrends:
Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 52(3), 70-75. Retrieved
September 12, 2009, doi:10.1007/s11528-008-0158-5
Simonson, M. (2000, Winter). Making decisions: the use of electronic technology in
online classrooms. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, Retrieved
September 12, 2009, from Academic Search Premier Database.
Utecht, J. (2009, September 16). The learning stick. Retrieved September 16, 2009, from
http://www.thethinkingstick.com/.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
My weekend:
Well not much happened..well not much that was ultra exciting to talk about at least. Saturday I decided to go for a group ride in town and ride from the newish house. Well it was a good idea until I saw the 2:45 hour mark and thought to myself - "self, what were you think!?!" I had a good, hard ride and was happy with my climbing on the hills, but was ultra tired and not too happy to have to ride home. Then headed to the Yellow Daisy Festival with dad for some hours of shopping and I did not buy anything! Well I take that back I bought kettle corn popcorn...yum!
Today was alright...lots of phone calls and texts from people...which was good and exciting. This has already started some great conversations with the girlfriends! Other than that read like no other and moved the lawn. What a dull and boring day, but man I worked my behind off and got all my school assignments completed. Well off to bed - might ride my bike to work tomorrow... we will see how chilly it is in the am.
Well not much happened..well not much that was ultra exciting to talk about at least. Saturday I decided to go for a group ride in town and ride from the newish house. Well it was a good idea until I saw the 2:45 hour mark and thought to myself - "self, what were you think!?!" I had a good, hard ride and was happy with my climbing on the hills, but was ultra tired and not too happy to have to ride home. Then headed to the Yellow Daisy Festival with dad for some hours of shopping and I did not buy anything! Well I take that back I bought kettle corn popcorn...yum!
Today was alright...lots of phone calls and texts from people...which was good and exciting. This has already started some great conversations with the girlfriends! Other than that read like no other and moved the lawn. What a dull and boring day, but man I worked my behind off and got all my school assignments completed. Well off to bed - might ride my bike to work tomorrow... we will see how chilly it is in the am.
Friday, September 11, 2009
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