Blog Assignment #2

1. Professor Dancealot
In the video “Professor Dancealot,” Professor Dancealot’s teaching and exam formats were not in sync. Professor Dancealot lectured everyday in class and expected the students to be able to learn the dance moves without getting up and practicing them. He taught behind a desk and when he demonstrated the foot work, the students could not even see what he was doing. The students came prepared and ready to learn, but he did not know how to teach. If I was teaching this class, I would go over the slide during the first part of class and then take my students to the ballroom to demonstrate and let them practice. This way, even if the students do not get much practice time in class, they will have some basic knowledge of the steps to go home and be able to practice.

It is sad to say, but I have taken many courses where the professor has taught in a similar way. You can’t always choose what professor you get. They are either very good at teaching or very bad. Professor Dancealot was not a great teacher and I think many can agree with me. If the teacher does not teach well, this does not mean that you will fail the class. If your professor is a terrible teacher then it is up to you whether you pass or not. The students could of went home and looked up the dance moves on their own but chose not too. What I am trying to say is at the end of the semester, if you fail because he is a bad instructor, then you deserve to fail; but if you failed because you tried your best, then there is really nothing else you can do.

4. Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
In the video “Harness Your Students’ Digital Smarts,” by Vicki Davis, Davis shows us how technology can be good for students. If you give them something they do not know how to use, then they will figure it out. She allows the students to teach each other and work together. Students can get bored of listening to a teacher lecture. Therefore, Davis lets her students demonstrate what they have learned. She gets them involved with technology. Technology is expanding and will eventually start invading the classroom, why not put it to good use?

I like the way that she teaches her students to use technology to teach themselves. If they have questions or do not know something, she is always there to help but they also have the tools to look it up.

The Edutopia website has many tips and ways to make teaching and learning fun for the students. Showing teachers ways that can keep their students interested and wanting to learn.


2. Teaching in the 21st Century - Kaitlyn Parker
Roberts believes teaching in the 21st century is about engagement instead of entertainment. Teachers are no longer the only source of information for students, but teachers are the filter for the information. Students now have access to iPad's, computers, and smartphones where they can access Google, You-tube, or Facebook wherever and whenever they want or need. Technology gives them access to anything they need. Students can easily "Google" any question they have and within seconds get millions of responses. I feel that teachers are still needed in the classroom but they can utilize technology to excel their teaching and engagement with the students. Technology is growing and improving each and every day. As an educator technology will be used in my classroom to help me engage with my students. This will help teach them concepts I may not have been able to teach them using just a textbook and chalkboard.

3. The Networked Student - Haley Torries
The networked student video allows students to discover more of (what) technology has to offer. I enjoyed watching this video. I believe students become more engaged with this type of learning. They also connect with other people and their ideas.

Why does the networked student even need a teacher? The student needs a teacher as a coach whenever they feel like their research has hit a brick wall, to help them organize what they discover and keep them in the right direction. The teacher makes sure the student understands how to communicate properly with people all over the world by being kind and eager to learn. The teacher is also needed to make sure they are searching on sites that use correct information to back up their opinions.

I definitely believe a networked student needs a teacher. I think a better name for the teacher would be mentor. Mentors are there to answer any questions the student has while helping them become more independent in the field they are studying. I look forward to mentoring children and watching their imaginations grow.

5. Flipping the Classroom - 4th Grade STEM - Kabrina Harris
Flipping the classroom is a great concept that allows all students to learn at their own pace. I really believe that this way of learning could be helpful to all children and should be used in all schools. The best part of this program is that children get a chance to review the material before coming to class. Skipping the lecture allows students more time to ask questions to clear up problems that they may be having. Children can benefit from this program by being able to see the material more than once. I believe that the more time that they get to spend on a subject, the better they will become at it. This method gives students the opportunity to ask questions in class. Students can pause, rewind, and watch the video as many times as needed to effectively understand the information. This method seems to be very effective and I may even flip my classroom in the future!