Randy Pausch’s video of his “Last Lecture” is an example of something that few people have really found or felt. Outright determination, throughout all he was going through and the way he came out of it shows what, in the end, being determined to be happy can really do. The brick wall he speaks of is probably the most important to me, and how if you face the wall, to get through it, you must want it, and anyone who does not get over it, didn’t really want it is about as true as words get.
His lecture was not about troubles, hardships, or his cancer. It was about it not being about any of those, not defining yourself by your struggles, but by your perseverance over them. Happiness is not free, its earned. You have to want to be happy to find what will make you happy, and want it even more to achieve it. Let nothing stand in your way.
I will say something about his courage though. Not only facing his own trials, but finding a way to use them to the advantage of others is nothing less than inspiring. We need more men like him in the world, more who see the potential in a strife, rather than the strife itself.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
iTunes U
This ties back to the ipods in the classroom post from before. And in theory, it is a great idea.
The ability for students to download class information for use is a brilliant, if not, necessary tool for the times. Honestly the only problem that I can see with it is that it requires that you get an IPod, a similar service allowing for use with any MP3/MP4 player would be better in the aspect of user compliance, but that is neither here nor there.
This is a bold step in bringing the classroom further into the digital age, a fantastic venture in student/teacher interaction. As well as a sign of things to come in the idea of full classes being online, not only in the form of a weakly programmed web page hosted on a school’s most likely out of date server, but an opportunity to incorporate full, proper lectures, complete with audio and video, as well as access to the resources to take full advantage of the learning opportunity.
The hardest part of an educator’s job, I would think, is, what is the best medium in which to deliver the information allowing for the highest rate of data absorption on the part of the pupil. With weapons like iTunes University in their arsenal, it just adds one more way for the teacher to reach the student, and there is no problem or downside to a goal like that.
The ability for students to download class information for use is a brilliant, if not, necessary tool for the times. Honestly the only problem that I can see with it is that it requires that you get an IPod, a similar service allowing for use with any MP3/MP4 player would be better in the aspect of user compliance, but that is neither here nor there.
This is a bold step in bringing the classroom further into the digital age, a fantastic venture in student/teacher interaction. As well as a sign of things to come in the idea of full classes being online, not only in the form of a weakly programmed web page hosted on a school’s most likely out of date server, but an opportunity to incorporate full, proper lectures, complete with audio and video, as well as access to the resources to take full advantage of the learning opportunity.
The hardest part of an educator’s job, I would think, is, what is the best medium in which to deliver the information allowing for the highest rate of data absorption on the part of the pupil. With weapons like iTunes University in their arsenal, it just adds one more way for the teacher to reach the student, and there is no problem or downside to a goal like that.
Technologically illiterate teachers
I must say that without any question, I agree with everything said. There is, in my opinion, no such thing as being technologically illiterate, only technologically ignorant. And ignorance is a choice. Any teacher who is willing to look at something that they do not understand and say “I cant learn that” or “I wont learn that” is lacking in the most basic requirement for a teacher, the appreciation of learning new things.
On a professional level, it is even more important. With the introduction of digital media to the world, there was a dramatic shift in the way we absorb information. What used to take days may now take minutes, I am not saying that physical media is completely obsolete, but anyone who disagrees that it is less efficient is, by all terms, a fool. Twenty years ago, I could understand a teacher not understanding the core technologies (internet, e-mail, data processing), I am even willing to give lenience to those teaching a decade ago. We live in the age of the internet and also of perpetual change. A teacher not understanding, or worse, not being willing to learn how to use the tools of the time needs to be pushed into it, not to conform, but to be better at what it is their job is.
And on a psychological standpoint, it can really just come down to the message that ignorance in a field, willful or otherwise, sends to the students. These are the people we trust to take charge of preparing our young to take over when we are gone, and I for one want the lessons learned to be that everything is worth trying for, learning, and experiencing.
On a professional level, it is even more important. With the introduction of digital media to the world, there was a dramatic shift in the way we absorb information. What used to take days may now take minutes, I am not saying that physical media is completely obsolete, but anyone who disagrees that it is less efficient is, by all terms, a fool. Twenty years ago, I could understand a teacher not understanding the core technologies (internet, e-mail, data processing), I am even willing to give lenience to those teaching a decade ago. We live in the age of the internet and also of perpetual change. A teacher not understanding, or worse, not being willing to learn how to use the tools of the time needs to be pushed into it, not to conform, but to be better at what it is their job is.
And on a psychological standpoint, it can really just come down to the message that ignorance in a field, willful or otherwise, sends to the students. These are the people we trust to take charge of preparing our young to take over when we are gone, and I for one want the lessons learned to be that everything is worth trying for, learning, and experiencing.
iPod goes to school
From a teacher’s perspective the iPod allows you to integrate audio seamlessly into the curriculum. Every class, you can use music to set the stage, immediately jump to any point in an audio book, or play a famous speech accessed from the Library of Congress. Video, audio, and images can be loaded on the iPod and provide an excellent manner for bringing a student who missed a day up to speed. Or perhaps a student is struggling with a concept; they can watch a video a number of times on the iPod to fully understand the content. Students struggling with vocabulary can have flash cards on the iPod to see an image, hear a word used in a sentence, and read the word in text—and do it as many times as they need to understand it.
If a teacher records his lectures, then he can make them available for the students to copy, allowing for easier review during study time. This even allows students who use their iPods in the car to listen to the class they just had while driving home. Also with the addition of video, slide shows, entire lessons are converted into an easily transported form so that anyone can view them.
Even not including the media usage of the iPod, it still can act as a standalone portable storage device, reducing the risk of losing documents to and from class. Being able to carry around whole lesson plans from every class and even using it to bring your papers and homework to class avoids the "my dog ate it" issue.
If a teacher records his lectures, then he can make them available for the students to copy, allowing for easier review during study time. This even allows students who use their iPods in the car to listen to the class they just had while driving home. Also with the addition of video, slide shows, entire lessons are converted into an easily transported form so that anyone can view them.
Even not including the media usage of the iPod, it still can act as a standalone portable storage device, reducing the risk of losing documents to and from class. Being able to carry around whole lesson plans from every class and even using it to bring your papers and homework to class avoids the "my dog ate it" issue.
Dr. Christie
With a Ph.D. from Arozona State in Educational Tech. and Language and literacy, Dr. Alice Christie is doing what she can to help change the world she teaches in. With over twenty years of teaching Dr. Christie also gave speachs and did research on gender differences in their use of technology.
Dr. Christie also helped teach teachers in the use of such technologies as electronic portfolios for use in their classrooms. Not to be held back Dr. Christie even has slang terms that she keeps on her site to avoid any confusion that may come up between teachers and their students. The incorporation or instant messaging and LeetSpeak allows parents and teachers to also helps keep everyone on the same page.
Dr. Christie also uses and teaches about podcsats which I have mentioned in othe posts as being an ever helpful way of getting information out into the world. Dr. Christie is doing her best to not only keep up with technology in this changing world but incorporating it into the classroom and also helping teach it to those willing to learn about it.
Dr. Christie also helped teach teachers in the use of such technologies as electronic portfolios for use in their classrooms. Not to be held back Dr. Christie even has slang terms that she keeps on her site to avoid any confusion that may come up between teachers and their students. The incorporation or instant messaging and LeetSpeak allows parents and teachers to also helps keep everyone on the same page.
Dr. Christie also uses and teaches about podcsats which I have mentioned in othe posts as being an ever helpful way of getting information out into the world. Dr. Christie is doing her best to not only keep up with technology in this changing world but incorporating it into the classroom and also helping teach it to those willing to learn about it.
Last Post
Though I had already gone through this class once and had my mishaps, I still learned things I had not even been aware of. To my surprise this occurred yet again this time through, I already possessed a decent amount of skill in this area before the first time through and to be honest parts of the class were dull and repetitive since the things being taught I found easy and common sense. This is what I learned though, patience. Being a teacher I will have to understand that some students will not be able to catch on to even simple concepts sometimes and I will have to be able to both understand that and come up with a way of helping them. Case in point Mrs. McManus who sat next to me needed help constantly on very simple tasks and in the beginning of the semester I didn't think she had a chance, but as the weeks went by she needed less and less help. As far as the class material I am glad that this time we went over google a bit more. I had never known what the iGoogle was or how convenient it was along with the gadgets you can add to it. As always excel was helpful but we both know I already had a good grasp on it. The class was fun as always and very educational. Thanks a second time.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Energy flow in the coral reef system
The video of the coral reef is always interesting to me. The shear complexity of everything going on at every location and at every scale it intense. The video first begins telling about what coral is and how it grows and survives. After it gets that set they spread out to the other components of the reef and how everything ties together. The reef cannot survive without all of these parts working in unison with each other. I think that this video gets to its point both quickly and efficiently while also delivering it in a relaxed way to draw thw viewer in.
This video was great. It gets the information about coral reefs out there for people to see freely which is great because some need since many people think coral is a rock. I myself love learning about new creatures and find the ecosystems underwater very intresting. For instance the ruffled sea slug was amazing. This is a creature which can use photosynthesis to help it make its own energy. The applications with this are incredible.
Imagine scientists being able to isolate the gene that allows for this and introducing it into humans. The amount of food we would need to produce would drop drastically and we would be able to use that energy for other goods. Not to mention the humanitarian aid possible with it. We would not only be able to send more food but give those in need the injections also meaning they wouldn't need as much either. And on top of that we would also begin to take more care of our planet since we would be getting one more thing from it through the sun for personal energy. Just this one little slug could change our lives forever, who knows what else in under that water.
This video was great. It gets the information about coral reefs out there for people to see freely which is great because some need since many people think coral is a rock. I myself love learning about new creatures and find the ecosystems underwater very intresting. For instance the ruffled sea slug was amazing. This is a creature which can use photosynthesis to help it make its own energy. The applications with this are incredible.
Imagine scientists being able to isolate the gene that allows for this and introducing it into humans. The amount of food we would need to produce would drop drastically and we would be able to use that energy for other goods. Not to mention the humanitarian aid possible with it. We would not only be able to send more food but give those in need the injections also meaning they wouldn't need as much either. And on top of that we would also begin to take more care of our planet since we would be getting one more thing from it through the sun for personal energy. Just this one little slug could change our lives forever, who knows what else in under that water.
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