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This Class was a great experience for me! I didn't learn many new and interesting thing on how to use a computer, however, I learned how technology can be used in the classroom and how it can enrich the learning experience. To me, that is way better than just learning how to perform task on a computer. I wish that we could get more in depth in to excel and word. Those are such powerful resources that can make perform amazing tasks. Students today are so much more educated on technology when they attend college that they already know basic tasks. What I liked best was learning about google docs. I love google!! Most of all because google is free!!!!!! It definitely helps if you do not have microsoft office on your computer. This was an overall great class and Our professor did a great job! Thanks for the experience.

iPod's in education

iPod use in education is something that is certainly on the rise. An interesting study was done by Duke University in 2004. They gave iPod's to all the first year incoming freshman and evaluated their use and response in the classroom. They found that this certainly increased student participation and learning uses of the iPod. The Study was titled iPod First Year Experince
I think that iPod's can definitely increase a students learning because it can give students access at anytime to audio and sometimes video of educational use. This comes in handy during a car ride or when working because it is hard to study when you are busy but your ears can certainly listen to what is going on.

Alice Christie

This lady's website is very resourceful and useful for teachers. I loved the educational technology part. I think that I chose this because this is almost the theme of our whole class is that technology is changing and it can be used in the class. This part of her site list many resources and information on how to use technology effectively in the classroom. Many teachers are ignoring this movement of technology because they do not want to learn. Mostly because they do not know how to use technology. Students are beginning to use computers at younger and younger ages and are using them to handle almost everything that comes there way. My favorite links were the website development toolkit and the podcasting. I think that these are important parts of todays classroom. Especially the Websites. That gives students instant access to what they may have missed in class for a particular day or more information to a project. I hope that people will become more aware of technology in the classroom and start applying what they have learned.

NPR Blog on Wikipedia

This blog was very informative on something that college students are always being reminded of. That is the fact that Wikipedia is not always reliable. This open policy that Wikipedia allows anyone to edit its contents makes this very people to change post that will help them or their business or even there public appearance. The Walmart post was especially obvious and definitely a way to persuade future employee's to consider what walmart has to offer.
Many questions can arise as to how can wikipedia regulate who can edit and change what is written about particular subjects. I think that if there is substantial proof that if someone has changed an entry in wikipedia that can benefit them or a particular person that is completely false that that person should be punish by the american judicial system. This must be regulated because it can hurt particular businesses as well by competition and disgruntled former employees.

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

This is a great lecture. The main thing that I loved was that we should have fun no matter what we do. I loved how he used his childhood dreams to teach about life and to really just tell his story. This is an amazing man who has accomplished many things over the years. In case you do not know what I am talking about, Randy Pausch is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He gave his "Last Lecture" when he found out that he had, at that time, been diagnosed with cancer.
Many of his teaching methods encouraged life lessons that all his students could apply throughout life. While watching the video I was captivated by his motivation even though he knew that he was about to die. That is truly amazing for a person to be so enthusiastic and to still continue to do what he does even in such bad circumstances.
My favorite lesson was the brick wall illustration. It showed me that there will always be obstacles in life. They are meant to make us better and to let you only get what you really want. I would recommend this lecture to almost anybody that i know. It is very uplifting and encouraging! In fact i have already emailed it to a few people. I would give this lecture an A+!

Fischbowl Blog 2

The blog that I read from 2007 was Blogging 1984- With Parents This particular blog caught my attention because it talked about parents blogging with there kids. It Showed an apple ad From 1984. Then It showed Hillary Clinton Attack ad. This particular blog that was described asked the parents and the kids to comment on these things. Of course it makes note that some of the parents didnt want to participate but all in all this is extremely interesting.

Podcast from fall 08

The first podcast I listened to was My Classes At South: How is Technology Used in them?. This was a very interesting podcast because it applies to almost every student at south alabama. It was fairly well organized. I hate listening to podcast that just ramble on. A few things could make this better. The first that I would do is try to make the script that the two are obviously following sound more like a conversation. This will help keep the listener wanting more. The second podcast that i listened to was Can YouTube be used for Educational purposes. This podcast, in my opinion, wasn't as good as the other podcast that I listened to because of the monotone voices that kept ringing through my ear. Please remember this; whenever you make a podcast, anyone can hear this. Anyone in the world can hear this. So please at least try to make your voice pleasurable. This was however an interesting topic. It coincides with the podcast before because technology is definitely changing the classroom.

Podcast!!

There are many ways to get podcasts. The most popular way is to download them from iTunes. However, Microsoft's Zune software can allow you to download them too. Most are free however some cost a few dollars to subscribe. Those are usually professionally done and have video with them. Most are just audio that are posted by people like you and me; and free!

My favorite podcast would have to be the MacWorld one. I like it mostly because I own a mac! I subscribed to it and plan on listening to it every week. The style and presentation is from various artist who are professionals experts on this particular subject.

Other podcast have videos associated with their subscription. One of my favorite's is 'Ask a Ninja'. This can be found on iTunes if you search the phrase "Ask a Ninja". This particular podcast is sponsored by Verizon Wireless. It has a lot of humor involved with it.

The podcast that were assigned to me are interesting because many discuss how to bring technology to the classroom and to apply it to teaching. A very interesting one was This Week in Photography. My favorite podcast are Focus on the Family that can be found on iTunes. It is a daily radio show that post their broadcast on the web.

Blogs in the classroom

This is Kathy Cassidy’s classroom blog. This is an awesome blog. It is very organized and I don’t get lost when I look around on the page. She has pictures, videos and great links on it. This will be a great resource not only for the students, but for parents as well to see what is actually going on in the classroom. This is Mrs Myrmel classroom blog. This blog is a little different. The layout and style is not the same. I feel like Mrs. Cassidy’s blog is a little more complex. This one, however, is very user friendly and has a little more visual appeal. Overall this is a great way for students to access information about their class at any time. This is a tremendous resource.

ACCESS Presentation

ACCESS is a online learning initiative started by the state of Alabama to better educate 21st century  students in an ever changing technological world. They have teamed up with college universities to create a distant learning environment with the teacher in the class room; utilizing technology right in the middle of it. This is a teacher controlled environment where students learn the curriculum at a university through the internet and other applications. The ACCESS website offers many resources for this type of learning. Schools will also be provided with state funding to begin using this technology. So funding isn't as big a problem. there are schools statewide using this program to better educate the 21st century student. It provides the technology for a student to be prepared for the ever changing world. This presentation will provide additional  information. (click on the expansion III announcement)

Did you know?

I watched the Did You Know? Video and it was very interesting. The first thing i noticed is that it was definitely posted before our nations current financial crisis. However, It made me realize how quickly our technology is changing. This is something that will be very hard for people to adapt to in years to come; if they are not prepared. 

Many people have different views on this exponentially growing technology. Like Richard Swenson or Michael Rogers. Personally, I believe in Christ Jesus. His word has accurately predicted events that are happening today... however, it was written more than 2000 years ago. Trying times are ahead. Pray for our nation and our world! Plan of Salvation!!!!

ALEX and ACCESS

Alex is an acronym for the Alabama Learning Exchange. Its basic function is to provide teachers parents and students with adequate learning resources. The websites slogan is “Quality for Every Facet of Learning”. It gives teachers, parents, and students things such as: lesson plans, web links, and interactive activities. Access is an acronym for Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide. This initiative provides opportunities for high school students to participate in Advanced Placement (AP), and other courses to which they may not have access; As told by the website.
Alex, in my opinion, is a great resource for not only teachers but for parents and students. This is a wonderful way to keep them all connected. It also allows teachers to access information from other teachers; which is a huge advantage for people in this area. Communication between teachers is very important. This is a great program. Access allows students who are motivated or may not have a course offered in a particular area of interest to learn more through on-line coursework and through faculty working close with the website. They relate very closely because it allows students to become better educated and to achieve a certain amount of respect for themselves and other people through the resources available.

First Post

Hello everyone, My name is Chip Curtis. I am a secondary education/math major. I am 20 years old and already balding, kidding, not too bad. I was born and grew up in Mobile.(or right outside mobile in the small town of wilmer)My birth was exceptional because the greatest child in the world was about to be born, however, i have to give credit to my other 2 brothers who were born with me. That's right! I'm a triplett. My favorite website is ESPN

Growing up in Wilmer was a blast! Not only because there was so much room to play but that there was 2 other fellas right by my side the whole time.(my brothers) It was great! During this time I developed a tremendous love for sports. Football is by far my favorite. Which is why i decided to become a teacher and coach.

I have a strong backround in coaching. My 2 of my uncles are well known coaches in mobile. The first i would like to mention is Bobby Curtis, He coached and taught in mobile county for 25 years. He has been a tremendous influence on my coaching career so far. The second is probably the most famous of the Curtis boys who is the infamous Terry Curtis. Both of these men, i believe, have taught at Murphy High with our very own Mr. Wakeman.

The last thing that I would like to mention is my passion for Jesus Christ. My ultimate goal is to reach others for his kingdom; Because I believe that all the money, fame, and accomplishments
are nothing without him. There has never been or never will be a greater man to walk the earth.
That's me!
Chip Curtis