Tuesday, July 14, 2015
C4Ta#4
C4Ta#4 Post 1
Summary of Post #1: In Vicki Davis' Edutopia blog post, she writes 17 helpful tips for using a 3D printer. She writes them out to save time for others, while she figured it out the hard way with her own 3D printer named Bob Marley. The list goes as:
1. Find a video about loading the filament properly. Written instructions were a no go.
2. Make sure the feeder tube is long enough. If the white tube that takes the filament from the spool in the back to the nozzle is too short, it will pull the nozzle off and stop the print job.
3. Call the manufacturer if you need help. Don't wait. New problems arise all the time with these printers, the sooner you call, the better.
4. Keep fingers away from the inside of the printer. It is hot! Do not touch. Wait until it cools off, and then try to scrape away with a scraper instead of your bare hands.
5. A curiosity cabinet keeps hands and fingers away from the printer. Kids are curious, so keep a basket in plain view for easy access to share.
6. Play with resolution. There are three kinds of quality settings on 3D printers.
8. Order Filament in a variety of colors. Print one color at a time and then change the spool to a different color.
9. Combine the smaller parts of a print job. Have students combine the smaller items into one print job.
10. Organize your printing. You ultimately have four big decisions to organizing.
12. Let students work in teams. Even though they want to individually take things home, 3D printers take a while. So it's easier to print in teams of 3 or 4.
13. Start with pre made items. Students chose items with moving parts on Thingiverse. Then, they took smaller parts and combined them. If too big, it can be downsized and they will do some math along with it.
14. Use boxes to keep work organized. Have labeled boxes so work doesn't "walk away."
15. Let students use software that is comfortable for them. Let students compare and find one that is easier for them to use, personally. Most 3D printers can import any .STL file.
16. Plan longer-term projects. Students must learn to take turns.
17. Learn together! 3D printers are still new, so learn it together.
C4Ta#4 Comment
Comment #1 on Post 1: Hi Vicki! Although I am not a teacher yet, or have any experience with 3D printers, I really enjoyed reading about them in your post. When I become a teacher and I start working with 3D printers, I will be sure to look back at this post to get me through, step-by-step. Thank you!
C4Ta#4 Post 2
Summary made on Post #2: In Vicki Davis' post on Cool Cat Teacher, she writes on "How Iron Chef Lessons Make Cooperative Learning Awesome." Specifically, Jon Corippo shares his remix of jigsaw cooperative learning methods with Vicki. Vicki shares his important takeaways for listeners:
Summary of Post #1: In Vicki Davis' Edutopia blog post, she writes 17 helpful tips for using a 3D printer. She writes them out to save time for others, while she figured it out the hard way with her own 3D printer named Bob Marley. The list goes as:
1. Find a video about loading the filament properly. Written instructions were a no go.
2. Make sure the feeder tube is long enough. If the white tube that takes the filament from the spool in the back to the nozzle is too short, it will pull the nozzle off and stop the print job.
3. Call the manufacturer if you need help. Don't wait. New problems arise all the time with these printers, the sooner you call, the better.
4. Keep fingers away from the inside of the printer. It is hot! Do not touch. Wait until it cools off, and then try to scrape away with a scraper instead of your bare hands.
5. A curiosity cabinet keeps hands and fingers away from the printer. Kids are curious, so keep a basket in plain view for easy access to share.
6. Play with resolution. There are three kinds of quality settings on 3D printers.
- Layer Resolution
- Fill Density
- Wall Thickness
8. Order Filament in a variety of colors. Print one color at a time and then change the spool to a different color.
9. Combine the smaller parts of a print job. Have students combine the smaller items into one print job.
10. Organize your printing. You ultimately have four big decisions to organizing.
- How will students submit their work?
- How will you approve work or give feedback?
- How will students revise work?
- How will you organize your print jobs effectively
12. Let students work in teams. Even though they want to individually take things home, 3D printers take a while. So it's easier to print in teams of 3 or 4.
13. Start with pre made items. Students chose items with moving parts on Thingiverse. Then, they took smaller parts and combined them. If too big, it can be downsized and they will do some math along with it.
14. Use boxes to keep work organized. Have labeled boxes so work doesn't "walk away."
15. Let students use software that is comfortable for them. Let students compare and find one that is easier for them to use, personally. Most 3D printers can import any .STL file.
16. Plan longer-term projects. Students must learn to take turns.
17. Learn together! 3D printers are still new, so learn it together.
C4Ta#4 Comment
Comment #1 on Post 1: Hi Vicki! Although I am not a teacher yet, or have any experience with 3D printers, I really enjoyed reading about them in your post. When I become a teacher and I start working with 3D printers, I will be sure to look back at this post to get me through, step-by-step. Thank you!
C4Ta#4 Post 2
Summary made on Post #2: In Vicki Davis' post on Cool Cat Teacher, she writes on "How Iron Chef Lessons Make Cooperative Learning Awesome." Specifically, Jon Corippo shares his remix of jigsaw cooperative learning methods with Vicki. Vicki shares his important takeaways for listeners:
- First, Jon opens with methods that bore students, that many teachers often use.
- Jon critiqued the traditional jigsaw puzzle method.
- "The "secret ingredient" idea can help you link together the presentation."
- Jon gave examples in all subjects with Iron Chef lesson plans
- "How do you fully engage students who work quickly?"
- "How can you grade easily?"
- "How do you supercharge peer feedback?"
- "How can you use this to help kids appreciate each other's strengths?"
- "What are other ways teachers get students excited about learning?"
- "How can you incorporate formative assessment?"
- "How to make the top 20 grammar errors exciting with Iron Chef lesson design."
It mentions that Iron Chef is out there for anyone using cooperative learn, Google Apps, or Chromebooks for Education. Vicki then lists more free resources that Jon advises, such as Google Presentations, the research tool in Google Apps, and Iron Chef Lesson Design Website. There are also posts of what teachers have said about Iron Chef Lesson and also a link to join the conversation about it on Twitter and Facebook. Vicki ends with one of Jon's quotes: "Teaching should take you up to something."
C4Ta#4 Comment
Comment #2 on Post 2: I feel this is a very important video because Jon made very conscious points. I'm glad you have posted in many of your networks, especially on Twitter and Facebook, to make it more accessible. For those not able to watch the video, the points listed go right along with it. I enjoyed it! Thank you!
Blog Post #5 Part B
My PLN has evolved over the semester through my use of Twitter. Many of my classmates, or former classmates, suggested using Symbaloo, but I often found great resources through Twitter. I know you can have several PLN's, but this is where I am currently at. Through Twitter, my PLN has evolved by following fellow classmates, including my group members, and looking into their followers and the people they are following. I also looked into guests that came in during our EDM310 class time, specifically Michelle Bennet and the resources she had to offer. I've been searching through their lists and followers. I have not only followed those we have met in class, but also those we have blogged about, including Kathy Cassidy and Michael Fawcett. I also have been looking into topics that my C4T teachers talked about if I couldn't find them personally. I have also found Edutopia to be very resourceful, as well as Discovery Education, NEA and many others. Although, my PLN has evolved throughout my time in EDM310, I know it doesn't stop there. With time, as Kathy Cassidy said, it will become one the greatest resources as a teacher you'll ever have.
Blog Post #14
In looking at Mr. Klein's article, Teaching Can Be a Profession, I found myself agreeing with most of his claims, rather than arguing against them. Mr. Klein was asked, "If you could wave a wand and change one thing, what would it be?" He said to professionalize teaching. He would suggests that professionalizing teaching can be accomplished by addressing:
- Picking from the Best
- Removing Seniority Distraction
- Making Radical Changes
In regards to picking from the best, Klein offers that it can be accomplished in three ways. The first thing he would do is provide better training for the teachers. Second, he suggests that we have a new approach for recruiting teachers. Instead of giving anyone the option of the profession, colleges choose from the top third of the graduates. Lastly, we must change how we reward the teachers. Oftentimes, distinctions are made about teachers based on seniority, but really "teachers vary enormously in performance."
In Mr. Klein's next approach to professionalizing teaching, he addresses removing seniority distraction. He points out that "job security and seniority dictate the way our schools operate." Oftentimes, new and inexperienced teachers are sent to low-income schools to teach the poor kids. While experienced teachers are set up in middle-class communities. So whenever it comes down to lay-offs, the the most recently hired are the first to go, rather than the ineffective teachers. Klein then points out that professionalizing teaching is the guiding hallmark and everything must be realigned to this core principle. Lastly, Klein pulls from a strategy Albert Shanker has to offer. "He recommended doing several things to create a profession including attracting our best students." Shanker also called for giving a "national teacher examination" that examines "mastery of pedagogy and content knowledge." He also called for a internship of one to three years to examine prospective teachers.
The last approach to professionalizing teaching Mr. Klein takes is making radical changes. He continued to follow Shanker's proposition. He proposed that teachers "establish their own boards to police the profession." Teachers would also be subjected to "merit-based career ladders and would be promoted on specialty exams." He lastly adds, "teachers would abandon their support for mandatory assignment of kids to neighborhood schools in favor of "the greatest possible choice among public schools."'
I find myself agreeing with Klein and Shanker's propositions, more than I find myself disagreeing. In regards to picking from the best, we do need to choose more carefully. Students don't deserve to sit in a classroom of an ineffective teacher. Students don't get a choice in their teacher, oftentimes. We can prevent this with training and picking from the best out of the top. If we don't start now, how are we supposed to also stop the problems of seniority? Which is another topic I believe Klein addressed well.
Seniority is a major problem in school systems. Teachers often believe because they have been there the longest, they have a guaranteed job so it doesn't matter the performance they give to their students. We need to change this thinking. Not every new teacher is lost in what they're teaching, so why are they the first ones out of a job? Oftentimes, they try harder than teachers who have been teaching longer than they have. New teachers want to catch up with the ones more experienced, although some aren't as effective even though they are experienced. With Klein's solutions from picking from the best, I feel it can help eliminate the seniority problem. Each step plays on each other and one step can't be accomplished to professionalizing teaching without the other.
As for radical changes, there is so much potential in what Shanker suggested. Though there could be potential problems, there is potential for problems in everything. No solution is perfect because education and teaching is constantly evolving. But for now, I believe it's a good place to start.
In the end, changes need to be made. Education is the stepping stone for a students' life. It starts with professionalizing teaching. Without proper teaching and education, how are students' supposed to make it? Let's change now, starting with Klein and Shanker's ideas, because we can only build on the solutions proposed. Change is necessary in education, whether it is radical or simple.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Blog Post #13
What did I leave out?
Why is integrating the classrooms important? Why is integrating technology in the classroom important? Especially in a ELA High School classroom?
Look and read the following links. Most are saying why educators should integrate studies and also integrate technology in the classroom, but there is one link that looks into integrating technology into the Language Arts Classroom. In the same link, there are options to go elsewhere per subject or grade. These are great resources and explanations into why integrating studies and technology is useful and important in the classroom. Write a summary on 4 out of the 6 webpages, and think overall, would you as a future educator, incorporate technology and integrated curriculum in your classroom? Then provide the information in a post that adheres to the standards found in the ACCRS and Writing a Quality Blog Post.
An Introduction to Technology Integration- Edutopia
Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?-Edutopia
Integrating Technology into the Language Arts Classroom- Glenco
An Introduction to Integrated Studies- Edutopia
Integrated Studies: What Experts Say- Edutopia
Chelsea Hasenpflugs bPortfolio: Benefits of Integrated Curriculum
Summary #1
In An Introduction to Technology Integration- Edutopia, the first couple of the opening statements caught my eye. "Technology is being used to fundamentally transform what the classroom is. It fundamentally transforms what you can do in the classroom." According to Edutopia, technology integration can be defined as using technology in the classroom to the best of your abilities. "The common core state standards call for students to develop digital media and technology skills."Students are creating today by media tools. It makes learning more meaningful and keeps educators on the same page as the students. They can use many applications to show their learning. Often times, when using technology in a lesson, they learn beyond what the teacher has planned out. Another thing technology brings to the classroom is interest because the students know they have an audience to share their work with. "Integrating technology with face-to- face teacher time generally produces better academic outcomes than employing either technique alone." Overall, the gear of being a teacher has shifted to being a facilitator. It's all about the learning and the process when students stay focused and motivated when sharing ideas with each other. It can be proven by research that there are many improvements in the classroom when technology is integrated into it.
Summary #2
An Introduction to Integrated Studies- Edutopia is a helpful resource about integrated studies. Although we have not really changed the way education is taught since the mid 19th century when we adopted curriculum from Prussia, we find that outside of education, subjects flow in and out of each other. We now live in a knowledge economy, so we have to teach how things are used in the real world. "Integrated studies blend various subjects which brings them into meaningful association often through projects." Integration provides deep understanding that goes beyond individual subject matter knowledge. "Research shows that learning increases when information is presented in meaningful and connected patterns."Integrated studies requires flexibility in schedules for teachers, and also patience. Benefits of integrated studies include: a sense of teamwork, faster retrieval of information, and higher attendance and homework completion. Overall, it is hard work, but there are benefits for everyone in the end, students and teachers alike.
Summary #3
On the webpage, Integrating Technology into the Language Arts Classroom, Glenco provides useful resources for an ELA classroom. They not only provide links for ELA, but for any subject or grade out there. Specifically I am looking into how different ways to integrate technology in a high school ELA classroom.
Technology can help:
Summary #4
In Chelsea Hasenpflugs bPortfolio: Benefits of Integrated Curriculum, she talks about her plans to use integrated curriculum in her future classroom. Chelsea quotes from source, Drake and Burns, that "integrated curriculum is all about making connections." Outside interaction and information play a big role in understanding concepts and retention of learning. Hasenpflugs also points out another reason to have integrated curriculum in the classroom is because it offers more repetition of information than to teach subjects in isolation. Without repetition, it often goes through the students' ear and out the other. Sharing the same information throughout different studies, helps improve the students to retain information. Lastly, Chelsea points out each student is different in the way they learn. Integrated curriculum gives more of a chance to reach out to students by their interests. Through these several reasons, I believe future educators should consider integrating with other curriculums to help the students learn further and actually retain information for when they get out of school.
Overall, I believe that technology and curriculum should be integrated in the classroom. Integration is very resourceful in the classroom. It helps get the lesson across better and helps embed in students brains longer.
Why is integrating the classrooms important? Why is integrating technology in the classroom important? Especially in a ELA High School classroom?
Look and read the following links. Most are saying why educators should integrate studies and also integrate technology in the classroom, but there is one link that looks into integrating technology into the Language Arts Classroom. In the same link, there are options to go elsewhere per subject or grade. These are great resources and explanations into why integrating studies and technology is useful and important in the classroom. Write a summary on 4 out of the 6 webpages, and think overall, would you as a future educator, incorporate technology and integrated curriculum in your classroom? Then provide the information in a post that adheres to the standards found in the ACCRS and Writing a Quality Blog Post.An Introduction to Technology Integration- Edutopia
Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?-Edutopia
Integrating Technology into the Language Arts Classroom- Glenco
An Introduction to Integrated Studies- Edutopia
Integrated Studies: What Experts Say- Edutopia
Chelsea Hasenpflugs bPortfolio: Benefits of Integrated Curriculum
Summary #1
In An Introduction to Technology Integration- Edutopia, the first couple of the opening statements caught my eye. "Technology is being used to fundamentally transform what the classroom is. It fundamentally transforms what you can do in the classroom." According to Edutopia, technology integration can be defined as using technology in the classroom to the best of your abilities. "The common core state standards call for students to develop digital media and technology skills."Students are creating today by media tools. It makes learning more meaningful and keeps educators on the same page as the students. They can use many applications to show their learning. Often times, when using technology in a lesson, they learn beyond what the teacher has planned out. Another thing technology brings to the classroom is interest because the students know they have an audience to share their work with. "Integrating technology with face-to- face teacher time generally produces better academic outcomes than employing either technique alone." Overall, the gear of being a teacher has shifted to being a facilitator. It's all about the learning and the process when students stay focused and motivated when sharing ideas with each other. It can be proven by research that there are many improvements in the classroom when technology is integrated into it.
Summary #2
An Introduction to Integrated Studies- Edutopia is a helpful resource about integrated studies. Although we have not really changed the way education is taught since the mid 19th century when we adopted curriculum from Prussia, we find that outside of education, subjects flow in and out of each other. We now live in a knowledge economy, so we have to teach how things are used in the real world. "Integrated studies blend various subjects which brings them into meaningful association often through projects." Integration provides deep understanding that goes beyond individual subject matter knowledge. "Research shows that learning increases when information is presented in meaningful and connected patterns."Integrated studies requires flexibility in schedules for teachers, and also patience. Benefits of integrated studies include: a sense of teamwork, faster retrieval of information, and higher attendance and homework completion. Overall, it is hard work, but there are benefits for everyone in the end, students and teachers alike.
Summary #3
On the webpage, Integrating Technology into the Language Arts Classroom, Glenco provides useful resources for an ELA classroom. They not only provide links for ELA, but for any subject or grade out there. Specifically I am looking into how different ways to integrate technology in a high school ELA classroom.
Technology can help:
- Create visual aids for teaching
- Improve Access to Resources, such as online literature libraries
- Review and comment on student work more efficiently
- Integrate video clips into presentations
- Broaden choices for students to demonstrate learning
Glenco also gave lesson ideas:
- Assign Digital Presentations
- Connect to Books Online
- Use WebQuests
- Battle Plagiarism with the Internet
- Streaming Media for On Demand Viewing
- Grammar Instruction
- PowerPoint Presentations
- Word Processing Software
Again, this is a resource for any and all grades and subjects to show how each can integrate technology.
Summary #4
In Chelsea Hasenpflugs bPortfolio: Benefits of Integrated Curriculum, she talks about her plans to use integrated curriculum in her future classroom. Chelsea quotes from source, Drake and Burns, that "integrated curriculum is all about making connections." Outside interaction and information play a big role in understanding concepts and retention of learning. Hasenpflugs also points out another reason to have integrated curriculum in the classroom is because it offers more repetition of information than to teach subjects in isolation. Without repetition, it often goes through the students' ear and out the other. Sharing the same information throughout different studies, helps improve the students to retain information. Lastly, Chelsea points out each student is different in the way they learn. Integrated curriculum gives more of a chance to reach out to students by their interests. Through these several reasons, I believe future educators should consider integrating with other curriculums to help the students learn further and actually retain information for when they get out of school.
Overall, I believe that technology and curriculum should be integrated in the classroom. Integration is very resourceful in the classroom. It helps get the lesson across better and helps embed in students brains longer.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
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