Blog Post #3

How Can You Provide Meaningful Feedback To Your Peers?

What is Peer Editing? 

Peer editing is working with someone in your class to edit their work, and for them to do the same for you! Giving feedback to your peers can occasionally be overwhelming, or even scary, but it doesn't have to be! You have the potential to save someone's work

*The most important rule in peer editing…STAY POSITIVE.

According to the video What is Peer Editing?, and the Tutorial "Peer Edit With Perfection", there are three easy steps to peer editing.

Step 1: COMPLIMENT! The last thing you want to hear from your peer is negativity about the hard work you've done. Give them the good news. Tell them the ideas you like or how their word usage ROCKS. If they see your compliments first, they will be less likely to be defensive and more likely to use the ideas you are giving them. 

Step 2: SUGGESTIONS! Do not nit-pick every minor detail. Give them advice to make a sentence sound better or add an adjective they were missing. If you STAY POSITIVE, they'll take your advice and run with it. 

Step 3: CORRECTIONS! Use clear and concise editing marks while checking for grammar and spelling errors, and making sure there are no incomplete/ run-on sentences. Remember to be specific, don't leave anything out!

One of the main reasons why we peer edit is to get our peers to help us enhance our work. 

Treat your classmates as you would like to be treated. Don't be a Picky Patty or a Mean Margaret. Be aware of their feelings and give them the credit they deserve. Be POSITIVE, helpful, and specific. Now that I have learned about how to peer edit with more positivity, I know I can help my classmates be successful. 

Blog Post 2

What will teaching in the 21st Century be like? Let's find out!

1. Mr. Dancealot's dance class failed to learn anything the entire semester because they had no dance experience at any time. They could not learn how to dance simply from watching Powerpoint slides.
The author tries to make the point that lecturing will not teach students things that will be done in real-life situations. 

There are too many teachers who are solely lecture based, which in some situations is not the best way for students to learn. The picture above shows students falling asleep in class during lecture. The belief that hands-on experience is one of the best ways to learn is the main point, and I completely agree with this point. Learning through practice is one of the easiest ways to memorize a series of steps. For example, learning CPR takes practice with the body as well as the mind. Math is also another hands-on class. In my opinion, doing practice problems is the only way to memorize math.


2. Real-life problem solving takes hands-on skills, not how students are taught today.

• We need to rethink the tools we use and the types of problems we ask students to solve 
• technology tools are tempting, but using them the right way will not cause negative behavior in classrooms 

• any lesson you create has to be relevant, challenging, engaging 
• entertainment vs. engagement 
• engagement can be fun and educational 
• entertainment takes no skill

The video challenges us to research, practice, learn, then educate our students using tools that will help them in situations that being in a classroom would not. The technology used for entertainment could be used to educate students by engaging them during school, and entertain them by night. Why not use the tools acquired in this technology for educational needs? 

This technology would not benefit my area of education as much as some other courses because I am in Physical Education. However, new technology such as the testing graduates with South Alabama's Physical Therapy Department use to test ACL strength is a great way to incorporate technological programs in athletics. Programs and research like this developing into PE curriculums would definitely introduce this type of technology that Roberts suggests will prevail in education in the 21st Century. 

Taken from South Alabama's Physical Therapy testing lab. These are used in isometric ACL testing and are picked up by sensors and send information about the athlete's movements into the computer program.

3. Honestly, this video seems to put into perspective what 21st Century education is becoming, and I agree that this is how it should be. Building your own set of skills and connections with other people will get you where you need to be in today's society. In the changing way society uses technology, your network can even be spread around the world and could even change the way the rest of the world solves its problems and build networks of their own. 

Teachers are the key building block of this step because they help students with learning the ways of these networks and how to form connections and communicate with people everywhere. They teach students right and wrong, and what to do/what not to do. If they do not possess the expertise to give the student proper information, they have their own connections with the real experts. Teachers are the reason education can change, but whether current teachers agree with accelerating education in this way is the question.

4. Basically, Vicki Davis argues that not all students can succeed using just paper and pencil. She believes that giving students the power to work and teach one another makes the classroom a better learning environment. She wants them to be comfortable using any type of program and technology She gives them the opportunity to connect with students all over the world giving them the power to be independent in their connections. 

I do agree with Davis' point that students should be given the power to work with other students all over the world, but what they do with this power is questionable. Starting students at a younger age using technology has to be the way to go about this freedom. If they are used to technology in the classroom in their younger years, I believe they would use the technology how teachers would like when the time comes to connect with students from around the world. I think abuse of power would occur less if this method is applied sooner than later.

5. Clearly, elementary schools are ahead in the learning race. I was completely unaware that this technology was available for students in elementary education, so I am considering changing the last comments I made about Vicki Davis' students abusing power. I think it is great that schools are beginning to integrate technology with their curriculums and that teachers in Baldwin County Schools are so open to this change. The fact that some undergraduate students in our program (not bashing anyone) have just learned Google Docs and children around us have already started using this program is a pleasant surprise. At this young age, I think students will begin to take technology seriously as they progress through school.

 

Students from Perdido Elementary in Baldwin County using their MacBook Airs during class.

7. What Owens realized is very relevant in any educational setting. He believes in having students communicate in classrooms not only with the teacher, but with their fellow students as well. To Owen, teachers should ask questions that make students think or research to find an answer. 

In Physical Education, if students interact with each other and work toward a common goal, the outcome could be different coming out of PE classes. Too many students come out of PE not intending on being physically active the rest of their lives. If teachers had enough effect on their students, the students might change their perspective on their active lifestyle choices after Physical Education. Teachers should educate students by not only following their minimum requirements, but making it fun. Make it collaborative and cooperative; also make them realize the way they can have a healthy life and enjoy doing it.

The questions assigned in this post have made me realize the importance of interaction with students and teachers and the ways education has changed and will continue to change moving into the 21st Century. As a teacher, I will work to change this lecture-based education system into a technology-based system that incorporates real-life situations and active problem solving. 

Test

Test

Blog Post 1

What about EDM310?

I had not heard much about EDM310 until I heard that it was a required class for candidacy, and I did not know exactly what the course would produce for me as a teacher until I attended the first day of class. I do fear not understanding what exactly is required of me weekly, and many of the programs used in this class I have never used. I also fear falling behind with a lack of time that I have being an athlete (however, I will make time of course). 

I think this class will be very different from many other classes I have taken because this is not a "Burp Back" class. I have had few classes where I get hands on experience, and I know this class takes a lot of time and work to get the grade.

The most difficult thing for me will most likely be managing my time efficiently and not waiting until the last minute to finish the week's work. I will do my best to come in to the lab one day a week to get adequate help and to finish my work for the week so I do not have to worry about it the rest of the week. 

I am only concerned that I will forget certain parts of the work required and will not have it done on time. I have also been told that I worry too much, and I am usually extra cautious for no reason. But, the added stress keeps me on top of my work (most of the time).

Practice Blog Post

Who am I? Why do I want to be an educator? What does an educator do in his or her practice? What are my passions?

Outline:
Introduce
talk about home, family, hobbies
how did I get here?
why do I want to be an educator?
what do educators do in their field today?
show what my passions are (volleyball action shots, pictures of crafts I have done)


Hello, I'm Abby Baker!

I am a sophomore here at South Alabama, and much like you, I am in the field of education. I am from Fayetteville, Georgia- about thirty minutes south of Atlanta. My parents Scott and Joely are the best people I know. My dad is a little on the tough side and my mom is the most laid back person I have ever met. I credit them for helping me get where I am today. I am the oldest of three kids…My brother Bryce is 18 and my sister Shaye is 13. Much to my annoyance, people ask me every day if my sister and I are twins.

I play on the volleyball team here, so my greatest passion is most definitely volleyball. I also love doing crafts and getting in touch with my creative side. My main reason of going into the education field is to be able to coach volleyball and make a difference in young students' lives. I have had a great coach who inspired me to bring the passion and knowledge of the game and give it to others when my career is over. Helping students grow into good, even great people is also a passion of mine and I cannot wait to pour knowledge into their young minds.

Last May I traveled to Europe to spend part of my summer there. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I visited five different countries in two weeks!

Just a typical phone booth picture in the middle of London…

And enjoying the heat in Rome…

Traveling has become something I am very interested in doing and sharing with others. I can't wait to go back and visit again!

With all these hobbies/passions of mine, teaching my students will become easier due to the wisdom I have gained through these experiences. Educators today produce knowledge in their fields of expertise in hopes of teaching students for their future knowledge. I believe if you know how to gain students attention (in a good way) that they will be willing to learn or produce anything you want from them.