Blog Post #10

What can we learn from Mrs. Cassidy?

The first video, Little Kids…Big Potential, students in Moose Jaw, Canada are interviewed and asked specific questions about how they learn in the classroom. They know all ground rules to comment on other's blogs, they blog regularly, and they use Skype regularly to talk to people from all over the world. The students believe that using technology helps them to learn problem solving and how to share.

In Part 1 of the Skype interview with Mrs. Cassidy, she tells us about the techniques she used in the classroom blog and the students' use of the internet. The number one rule is to protect the identity of her students. First, use only first names, no last names. Also, when pictures are posted, she makes sure that no pictures are paired with a name. She stresses that technology is very prevalent in students' lives and should be used as it can open new windows to education. The best part about this section of the interview is Mrs. Cassidy harping on the good that blogs do for students. She likes them because students can write and show the world, rather than showing just their teacher.

She asserts that technology is more advanced than it used to be, and that teachers should all be technologically literate by doing things that they like or are interested in. She suggests that students who are learning to become teachers should begin having their own network, starting with Twitter. In Part 3 of the Skype conversation with Mrs. Cassidy, students from Dr. Strange's class ask questions in which she offers insight from personal experience. She is very helpful with giving advice to young teachers who are coming into the technologically-advanced education system. It is very encouraging for us students to hear that our work will be helpful in so many students' lives.

Videos links from Skype interview:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3