Blogfolio

1.  Introduction Video
   The first assignment of this course was the introduction video. This was an assignment that I thought was not only interesting, but also quite fun. The video introduction assignment was very new and exciting for me individually, because I had never made my own video about who I am and what my educational goals are. I feel that this assignment connects well with NETS of standard 1: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity (C.). This standard presents a good amount of student reflection and usage of collaborative tools, such as, the computer video to engage students' virtual and creative thinking. This standard certainly goes hand in hand with this assignment, because in this assignment it not only puts a student into a virtual digital way of thinking, but also teaches them how to inspire and be creative with their personality through usage of these tools and not just through paper. This assignment gave myself the chance to reflect on my own goals and introduce those goals to others in a much better way than I ever thought I could. I feel that I can definitely incorporate this type of teaching in my own classroom. By using this assignment, like my teacher before me, I can get to know my students better from the beginning. This assignment will help my students reflect well on their own personal goals and as a teacher this will help me better understand who my students are. I certainly enjoyed this assignment. It was a great experience being able to learn something new and especially something like this that can be fun, creative, bring out one's personality, and that can be applied to my future teaching as a very important teaching tool in the classroom.

2. Concept Map
     The second assignment of this course was creating a concept map. This was a very interesting assignment because it taught me how to think more outside the box. It taught me how to come up with better ways of introducing topics to my peers and future students. Learning how to use a concept map will definitely help me as a teacher break down material for my students to have a much better understanding of what I am teaching them. This assignment goes well with NETS of standard 2: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments (D.). In this standard it teaches how to bring about content in a easier and well thought out manner, such as, the usage of the concept map. Learning how to use this tool, like the standard states, will provide students with ways to use a step-by-step process method, in this type of technology, to help meet their needs to understand the content of a topic in a much more successful way. This technological tool also helps teachers provide a variety of ways to assess students in their knowledge of the material. I will most definitely be using this tool for my classroom in the future, because it is a great way to break down information to all types of learners. I really enjoyed being a part of this project and learning more about how to use this assignment in the classroom. It helps me think much more outside the box with creative and fun ideas for setting up material for my future students to learn from.

3. Movie
     The third assignment was my favorite of this course. The third assignment gave me the best view of how to make a digitally creative tool to teach and learn from. This was somewhat similar to our introduction video assignment, but with this assignment it required much more creativity digital tools. This was also great fun because like the introduction video it can show personality but not through a physical sense but instead through the viewing of digital enhancements of pictures. This assignment goes with NETS of standard 3: Model Digital-Age Work and Learning (C.). This standard talks about using different skills of communicating to students and bringing about new ways, in digital forms, to better teach students material. This type of tool is pleasing to the eye, and is a fun way for students to learn about new things. I want to use this in my future classroom, because it is something that not only is very fun to watch but it keeps students' attention. It is colorful, bright, and full of life. Since it is a moving screen tool, students minds will want them to continue watching and learning because it is like a story, everyone wants to see the ending. I really enjoyed making this film. I showed my family and all that I love. It was something that all my peers loved doing, because it was enjoyable and educational. This is a tool I cannot wait to apply to my classroom for my students.

4. Voki
     The fourth assignment that our class had was creating a voki. This was also very fun and interesting to create and learn from. I feel that this assignment falls under, from the NETS, of standard 4: Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility (B.). It is a tool that concurs with this standard because both show an understanding of reaching out to other cultures, diverse needs, and providing interesting strategies to all learners. This in and of itself is a remarkable digital tool that can help any learner. The reason for this, is because when one creates a voki, it gives it any language they want it to speak, it also is given fun voices for students to listen to, and fun ways to make it look the way they want it to look; to adapt to their certain culture. I would love to use this tool in my future classroom because I know this is a tool that all students will love. It can be changed and used in many different ways to make listening while learning material fun. I had so much fun doing this assignment, because everyone of my peers wanted to listen to each others voki. It showed all of our different personalities, different types of cultures, and way of life. This was unbelievably interesting and fun to listen and watch. I just know this will attract my future students to want to learn and listen to material in fun and diverse ways.

5. Web Page
     The fifth assignment that my class focused a good bit on was creating our web page. This assignment was very helpful and intriguing because this is a tool all teachers will definitely need to carry with them throughout their entire career of teaching. Creating a web page allows teachers to better inform students and parents to be aware of what their child's school year will consist of. This demonstrates many technological tools to help people like parents to have a mapped out idea of ways to help prepare their children for school such as a calender, materials for school, and information on courses. This also is a keeps items very organized, which is very helpful to teachers. This assignment connects to NETS of standard 5: Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership (D.). They both go well together because they prove effectiveness in teaching in a professional way; showing leadership and quality work. This is certainly a tool I will always use in my future career in teaching. I will use this tool for organization and helpful ways for my students' parents to prepare their children for schools. This will also be a great tool for organizing through a calender, events and functions for the class, such as when field trips are. I thought this project was very thought provoking and helpful. I am so very glad we were able to learn other ways to reach students.

Aviary Education

Aviary Eucation is a website that seems to really help in many areas of a person's learning developmental skills. It is a safe and private site to help students use aviary tools. I was not able to sign in and get better experience with this site because it allows users to have a class id before even entering in the site. But right there I know that it is truly a safe site and is trustworthy, because people can only get through it if they are learning with their teacher about it in a certain class. On this site, one could create a private account, manage projects and assignments, use the music, audio, vector, or image editor, and this could help better their projects and skills within their projects. This site is very helpful and is highly recommended to use because all the content and images on the site are 100% school safe. A person who would like to sign up for such an advanced site needs to be a part of a school organization or class that teaches these areas of aviary tools, so that they can be given a class id to attend this site at http://www.aviaryeducation.com/. Only then would a student be allowed to enter into this highly recommended and helpful school safe site.

Animoto

The Animoto website is a wonderful site for people to learn how to create beautiful and interesting slide shows, videos, images, music, and much more. It can be geared towards so many different people and ideas. This would help people in photography businesses, to someone working on a video for a certain business, to getting others names out for their skills and handiwork in these departments, or just for people who want to make videos and slide shows for family. It reaches and helps people in all of these areas. It is very easy to use. First, someone would go to http://animoto.com/ and then sign up for the site in a area on the very top of the web page. Once one has placed their name, email, and password in, they are ready to start. They then would sign into the site, and it will then bring them to the front page of the site. On the front page, it will give many different styles of videos that one can use to help create their own video. This is very easy to handle, because once one chooses an option it will then direct the person to the many wonderful ways that they can make their individual video great. It shows simply things like where to place names, titles, and pictures to helping one with an overview of their creation and adding music. I highly recommend signing up for this site. It is simply a wonderful and helpful site to teach people how to improve on video-making or just for their own pleasure making creative slide shows, videos, presentations, and expanding their creativity in these areas.

Ali Carr-Chellman on Ted.com

I completely agree with what Carr-Chellman is saying. The "education gap" between girls and boys is extremely important to the educational reform that continues to be sought in America today. We just really need to face it and bring in advocates to schools to talk about this topic to teachers. We need to use technological progress to our advantage and stop fighting it.

Social Media Study Email Responses

I was only given an email response back from Albany State University, as shown below:

Good Afternoon Ms. Reilly:

Currently my responsibilities are design , development and maintenance of campus sites.  While I do integrate social media feeds in to sights as needed, I do not choice the content or responsible for their upkeep. I went ahead and forwarded your email over to our Office of Intuitional Advancements.  They are in charge of the actual social media and how it impacts the school.  Hope things go well with your project.

-R. Salem Thomas


I tried to call the Office of Institutional Advancements at: 229-430-4600.

Web Page Project

https://sites.google.com/site/msreillyskindergartenclass/home

Philanthropy

I think it is very important to now incorporate in lesson plans with the way of videogames, since it is something that has become very important to young children's lives. I think that this could really be taken seriously, because children love playing video games. So if they have something similar to that, that is a learning tool (lesson plan) in school, then I think it would work for all students.

Why Flipped Classrooms Are Here to Stay

I think using this new system of teaching is the best way to teach, especially in today's society. It helps with discipline. No one gets all the attention because much of the lessons are in group work and hands-on activities, so children are always occupied with other things. This is a great way for teachers to help children that may be a little slower. Teachers can walk around the room more to check each individual student's work and help those who really need more help. This framework tailors the needs to all children. Like I stated earlier, it helps those children with slower learning styles and abilities and those that need a little discipline. Overall it really does tailor the needs of all children, because it teaches them more then regular lectures and lessons ever could. Since they are given the material to watch lectures ahead of time through computers, then the children will always be more prepared to discuss what that don't understand and through group activities learn to a deeper level the thoughts on the subject matter. This will prevent school absence kids to ever fall behind, because it will all start at their own computer at home. I feel this has so many great advantages and reviews that every school teacher needs to try this amazing and productive method in their classroom.

Educator's Guide to Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats

This is such a sad subject to read about but it speaks the truth. So many children and young adults in today's society are being the victims of cyberbullying and cyberthreats. Reading through this article made me remember a friend back in high school that was apparently bullied over the internet. It is very sad to think that he took his life because of what he believed from others about himself. I feel that children and young adults need to be more open to there parents and teachers always. How do we as teachers do this? We simply establish this groundwork from the beginning of knowing the child. This will always allow the child to trust us, feel comfortable around us, and know we are people to look up to for help and guidence. The boy from my high school did not ever feel that sense of care and love from his close friends or family. His parents worked all the time and never really had time to be with their son. His friends were friends of comic, never took him seriously, and just always joked. We as teachers can prevent this from happening to future teens and their situations. This boy never was close to his teachers, because none ever seemed open to help him. We as teachers need to not make this mistake, never turn a child in need away and never turn a child away that doesn't look like they need help, because chances are all children need a little help. Establish trust in the beginning with the students and then they will be protected and felt loved.

My Reilly Family Movie - Video

John Hunter on the World Peace Game

I thought that the John Hunter video was very touching and thought provoking. It is amazing that he is only a fourth grade public school teacher and can have so much passion for the topic of world peace in the way of the classroom. He brings alive an astonishing new game to his fourth graders called the "World Peace Game" which will inspire me and many generations to come. My favorite quote from his video and that I completely believe in and respect is when he said,"The World Peace Game is about learning to live and work comfortably in the unknown." Through his example, myself and many other teachers will be inspired to incorporate these great ideas into our own classrooms.

Voki

The Solar System Concept Map

The Solar System

I. Planets

There are eight planets in the Solar System. Planets are bodies that orbit stars, such as the Sun. The planets rotate around a titled axis and all share similar characteristics such as seasons, ice caps, hurricanes, and volcanism.

A. 8 Planets that orbit the Sun

B.

1) Mercury

2) Venus

3) Earth

4) Mars

5) Jupiter

6) Saturn

7) Uranus

8) Neptune

II. Moons

The Moon, in the solar system, is the only natural satellite of the Earth. The moon is the only body, besides Earth, that man has walked on. Each planet has its own moon that orbits it.

A. Revolve around a planet

B. Natural Satellite

III. Stars

There are millions of stars in the solar system. They are gigantic balls of mostly hydrogen gas. Our sun is a star. Because there is so much gravity, the gas becomes very hot and dense. There are many different stars. They are of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Stars even orbit around each other.

A. The Sun

1. The Sun is about 150 kilometers from our Earth.  

2. The Sun is a star that is the basis of the whole solar system. The sun is the reason for sustaining life on the Earth and provides heat and light to it.

B. Mass of Gas

IV. Asteroids

Asteroids are rocky fragments that are found in the solar system. They orbit planets, moons, and the sun. They are made from a mixture of stone, light and heavy elements, and also could have gasses mixed in. (Examples: Solid, liquid, frozen, or plasma states)

A. Small celestial bodies

B. Revolve around the Sun

V. Meteorites

Meteorites are pieces of bodies from the solar system that make their way to the ground. This happens when a meteor or a shooting star flashes through the atmosphere.

A. Stony or Metallic mass of matter

B. Fallen  to the Earth's Surface

Digital Citizenship

I learned from this article, that if someone is actively involved in groups on the internet with any sites such as Twitter, Facebook, etc. then they also need to learn how to have a sense of digital citizenship. This being said, all those that have access to a computer should follow this. All people need to show others respect even  digitally like through the computer. Things can just be as bad through the internet as if it was the real world. Having digital devices comes with having also grasping responsibility for one's actions. Everyone needs to be a good citizen, not only in society but also digitally.

Safe Social Networking

This article proved to be very intriguing to learn from, especially to people that have children or expecting to have children. This article talked about the importance of safe social networking for our young people, from ages kindergarten to age eighteen. The safety of our children is a number one priority in this nation. As our children go through school, if they use things such as Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube it could very well be applied to school and become a good idea for networking. If used in schools, it will be allowed through classes in a safe manner that is both used for learning and fun for children.

Children's Internet Protection Act

This article was very interesting to read and learn from because everyone needs to know how to understand the rights and protection laws of the internet concerning children. This keeps inappropriate content out of reach of children from the internet. It is very important to protect the minds of our young, naive, vulnerable, and growing children. There are simply to many issues in this world that children don't need to get caught up in. By following and abiding by this act, we may just save innocent children from the inappropriate evils of the internet. Once we have grasped this knowledge, we can go about bringing the internet into schools for children, but by doing that, it still being the right age appropriate content for our children to learn from.

The Chronicle

After reading the article, "The Chronicle," I have a better understanding of the badges movement. It talks about how this movement is based on the idea that people need to not only use evidence from an accredited school they attended, but also be able to gather evidence from what they learn. In the article, I learned that most first badge systems fail. I also learned though that an open system can be more successful because it is less expensive. I felt that this article was very interesting in the fact that the author introduced this on going issue to the minds of readers to realize how important it is in many different ways.

"Gamification"

This article concerning "Gamification" proved to be very interesting reading. This informative article really helped me understand what gamification is and how it can help me as a teacher with my students in the near future.  I feel that I can definitely apply this to my teaching because it is something that could very well be successful in the classroom and to the students.  I feel that by adding this into my students daily routines, with subjects such as science and math, the outcome would be the attention rates being very high.  Not only will students want to pay more attention to these activities for subjects, but it will also give them a better memory of material that they learned.  This is definitely a strategy I will apply to my classroom in the future, because of all the success this strategy has had for helping young students.

"The Virtues of Blogging as Scholarly Activity"

Reading this article, "The Virtues of Blogging as Scholarly Activity" has open my eyes to what blogging really has done for Martin Weller and also could do for me.  I have always seen myself as more of a YouTube and emailing type person for networking, but I may very well change that habit in the near future to blogging.  Blogging is something that is very new to me in my life.  My life of networking has always been simple, but as I grow through college and hopefully become a teacher in the near future, I feel that I should take this talent to heart; this will help create new networking for myself and my students in schools. I hope to take up this habit because it seemed to really be a success for Martin Weller, and could definitley be the turning point in my life for a better and more successful way of networking.

A Vision of K-12 Students Today-(2012)

               It seems that in today's society, many teachers still don't take advantage of the technology presented to them to better teach their students.  This could result in the statistic that 1 in every 4 students will not graduate with diplomas.  This means that 75% of students in the United States will not graduate. Eighty-nine percent of teachers don't use blogs. Many countries are far more advanced in the subject areas of mathematics, literacy, and science than the United States. Many students in the United States are poor test-takers on examinations.  This ranks the United States as the country with the lowest scores on examinations of the different school subjects. We as a country need to act now and fast. It will only help us in the long run with education. If we are all actively helping this cause there will be a change for the better.

eSchool News-“Why more schools aren’t teaching web literacy-and how they can start”

eSchool News-“Why more schools aren’t teaching web literacy-and how they can start”

            This article, “Why more schools aren’t teaching web literacy-and how they can start,” from eSchool News, proved to be very interesting to read.  This article introduced to me the different views and reasons regarding how most school systems choose not to bring about much experience in learning the ways of the web for children.  This immediately got me interested because I know full well how important it is in society today to learn about the many advancements of technology.  It not only can offer people a much better resource for good research, but also it is the way the world is now working.  The world is going in a whole new direction with all this new technological advancements including: internet, etc.  I feel that everyone, even younger children, need to be aware because it is happening in their generational times.  This also means that even older teachers need to stay informed and ready because it will not only be changing for these generations, but for theirs as well, especially when it comes to introducing them in their own classrooms.  After reading this article, I can see how many of the school systems have wanted to keep their children safe from the internet, but they just need to keep it at a reasonable extent.  This is simply because it is inevitable.  At some point, now starting at earlier ages, computers are too important because many schools are now requiring much more of an extent of research from elementary to high school aged children and anything else having to do with a computer such as the following: papers, power points, projects, etc.  This will only help them better themselves if they can understand this certain technology, but not take advantage of it.  Earlier in the article, some researchers mention that sites like facebook, email, and twitter are at people’s own personal interest to get involved with and is really not mandatory.  Research also shows that it betters peoples’ ways and ideas in school because it gives them a way to keep up with important events and keep in touch with other people.  Overall, the internet may not always sound like a very good idea for young children in the school systems, but it cannot be overlooked.  I feel that, from what I learned in the article, as long as school systems take a step by step process with web literacy, they can begin it at an early age.  But in doing so, this needs to be in a reasonable manner as years of a child go on.  This will enable the minds of young people to have a broader view of life, to be more prepared, and have right direction for their future.

Introduction

Hi! My name is Colleen Reilly.  I am a dual licensure major for special education and elementary education at the University of Southern Mississippi.  I plan on graduating in December of 2013.  I am excited about my future career, because I love working with young children.  Ever since I was young, I have loved babysitting typical children of all ages.  As I grew older, beginning in high school, I started to develop a love for special education.  I started volunteering each summer of high school as a counselor at a camp called Camp Smile.  This four week camp was given for children and adults with special needs each summer.  After those amazing experiences I had working with those people, I knew then that I wanted to continue this in my life and pursue a degree in special education.  I want to focus more on special education once I graduate.  I feel that there is a need for more good special education teachers.  I truly believe that this is my calling in life, because I am my happiest when I am working with special needs children.