PLN

My Personal Learning Network is nowhere near what I would dream of it being. Of course I use Facebook on a daily basis, but that is just to keep up with my friends and is for social reasons only. I have only just now become aware of the intellectual trail I am leaving behind, and the fact that it can be Googled! However, mostly through assignments in Dr. Strange's class I have started to expand my PLN. I can safely say that my PLN consists of Dr. Strange, Miss Lavakula and Room 10@Pt England School, LaNadia Patrick, Susan Morgan, Dillion Rogers, Emily Carlson and Samantha Sunderman.

Through assignments in Dr. Strange's class I have been able to contact teachers all the way on the other side of the world. They have left me comments and advice and have given me encouraging words on becoming a teacher. I think that it is great to get this kind of support from people that know nothing about me. As a teacher I would love to grow my PLN so that I can have a huge support system for when my lesson does not go as planned

ACCESS

ACCESS really means Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide. This is a program whose goal is to provide equal access to high quality instruction to improve student achievement through distance learning. What this means is that no matter your economic standing, social status, school district or any other meaningless event, all students in the state of Alabama can have access to a better education. With this program any and all students in the state of Alabama can log on and do actual work on this site. They also have the option to use video conference. Programs such as access really raise the bar in achievement levels.

I think that this is a really great idea. I think it is very important that teachers do whatever they can to raise the bar. This program shows how much teachers care about their students and what great links they will go to so that their students can succeed.

For more information CLICK HERE

ALEX

ALEX is the Alabama Learning Exchange created by the Alabama Department of Education. It is an online website containing useful information to current and future teachers at all grade levels, as well as students. It provides teacher and student resources in all areas including: lesson plans, tips for helping specific types of students, handouts, worksheets, personal workspace, professional learning and many other helpful resources. For students it provides an alternative academic search engine. It also gives students extra practice and alternative learning methods in subject areas they are having difficulty in. All of this is just a click away, accessible to absolutely anyone who is interested in the content matter, and it is completely free.

I think ALEX is one of the best things out there. I know as a future teacher I have so many questions and will still have questions all throughout my teaching career. Websites such as ALEX will help me to become a much better educator. I have used this website as a student, and I am certain I will use it as a teacher. One other great thing about ALEX is that I will also make sure my future students take advantage of this great system as well.

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Dear Kaia

A father was having a little father/daughter time, when he changed her life. It started out as a relationship builder and turned into a life altering event; not only for his daughter, but for the world. Dr. Chamberlain's class came along a story published by a father for his daughter and the next thing that was happening was that the father was skyping the class. It happened so fast, and so easily all thanks to the World Wide Web.

Then, the next thing I know is that it is affecting not only my life, but everyone in Dr. Strange's class because we comment to Dr. Chamberlain's class. The only thought I can manage to get out straight is that "it's a small world after all". Even though with technology it all happens so fast and so easy, it is important not to forget the bigger picture. As a senior in college I can communicate with a three year old across the world. Even though it may be a lot more interesting for the three year old I am still fascinated. Of course there are privacy issues that come into play, but at the same time think of the window of opportunities that father is opening for his daughter. If all teachers could do this very same thing for all of their students, the educational experience would reach it's greatest limit

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New Media Literacies

I do agree with NML Staff's opinion on new media and being literate on the subject. They are accurate on how being knowledgeable in this subject matter creates not only skills for the classroom and the workplace, but life skills as well. I think that in the 21st century if you are not familiar with technology there are not many job options for you. I find it nearly impossible to believe that individuals can go a whole day without using some type of personal, technological device. I know for a fact that the literacy device I am most familiar with is multitasking. It is one of my biggest attributes. I am a full time college student and work two jobs that require me to know 4 different computer systems. Time management is nearly impossible and multitasking and technology make my life a whole lot easier.

The New Media Literacies Project was created to help the younger generation become more technologically advanced. Their mission is to raise public understanding about what it means to be literate in a technologically advanced, multicultural world. They define what it means to be a part of this generation, living in this technological world. It explains what it means to have a Facebook or Myspace and what you are really contributing to by using Google and Wikipedia.

It is important for everybody in the 21st century to be technologically literate. As a college student I can safely say that without computer/internet skills I would most likely fail. I think the same can be said for many K-12 students today. The NML project is pushing to further the younger generation's technological knowledge, and I think it is one of the greatest opportunities for younger children out there.

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Networked Student

This video proves exactly what teachers just like Dr. Strange probably say everyday. Of course teachers want their students to be overachievers and go above and beyond what is asked of them; but how will students know what is above if they do not know what is the standard? I feel like I am a networked student. It is hard not to in this fast paced world we are now living in. I almost always think that I can just get the basics and go in and figure it our for myself and move on to the next thing. Although, this may sometimes work, I am still learning and still need guidance; just like every other student.

Being a networked student is not a bad thing. It is vital for students to be a part of their educational experience. Students control their learning more than their teachers do, but they still need teachers.

I think that as a future teacher the best thing I can do for my students is to make them want to learn. As long as the child is interested there are no limits as to what they can succeed. With all of the information that is available online for both students and teachers, there should be no problem finding something for everybody.


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This Is How We Dream...

Richard Miller presents a video about the future of multimedia and how it incorporates with education. He claims that the use of the internet effects everyone's lives on a daily basis. He also says that the use of the internet does change how we interact with the world around us. I completely agree. We do not have to wait 3-5 days to receive information through ground postage delivery anymore, nor is the only way we can see our loved ones who live far away through still photography. The internet has changed everything, including education.

I have to agree with others who say that multimedia expansion is no longer just a dream. I know from my own educational experiences that I would most likely fail college if I did not have access to the internet. This blog being the perfect example. I do think that I will be able to write with multimedia because I feel as though I am practically already there.

I think that as a future teacher I have a lot more knowledge about technology than most teachers that have already been in the field, mainly from this class, but also from all of my college classes. The majority of my teachers use powerpoints to present their topics, and many of my teachers allow assignments to be turned in via email. I am positive I will use these sources in my own classroom and that my students will be able to use multimedia as well. I do see technology spreading in more ways than it already has, but to say that it is not already happening and that it is still a dream is not accurate at all.