C4T Revolving #'s 1-4

Comment #1

Blog post was about an app to use on the whiteboard called Coachnote.  Coach Robinson, in his blog The PE Geek, uses this tool to incorporate tech into his P.E. classroom. The students can draw over a picture of the gym or a plying field, whatever the coach puts up. This allows them to set up teams and plays so that the players are clear about have a game is supposed to be set up before they actually go out to play.

I commented to Coach Robinson that since I have a degree in biology I am not familiar with teaching P.E. classes but the use of this great tool might even make it clear to me what I should do if I was filling in for you. Kids love using technology and will jump at the chance to “play” on the Whiteboard. I think you have found the perfect way to incorporate technology into your P.E. classroom. This is an effective, interactive visual that will make instruction by you more efficient and the students will love it.

Comment #2

This blog post was from Trails Optional by Jen Deyenberg and was about a chatroom tool called Today’s Meet which she used for backchanneling. Backchanneling is a “chatroom” where students can type in questions, concerns, or comments. The teacher sets up the room and sets the time limit for it to be open. The chat was used for an open classroom discussion about the current lesson they had covered that day in class.

I commented that this is my first semester in Education so I am not very familiar with a lot of the terminology that teachers use. Before reading your post, I had no idea what backchanneling was. I think that Today’s Meet is a great tool. I think many kids are more comfortable typing what they think than they are speaking vocally in front of a class. This tool may help to draw some students into a classroom discussion than would be in a traditional setting. I am curious as to whether this tool is used exclusively in classroom discussions or can you use it as part of homework and continue your discussions after school hours? If you do this, so all of your students have at home internet access and if not how do you handle this?

Comment #3

This week I read a post in the blog, 2 Cents Worth of seeking the Shababuku, by David Warlick.  The first thing that I was compelled to do was to find out what Shababuku meant. I found out that it is the practice of correcting another's false views and awakening that person to the truth. It is traditionally referrining to the truth of Buddhism but is apllied here as a generak concept to awaken knowledge about the value of using technology in the learning environment. The blog post written on Feb 20, 2014 was about a conference that Mr. Warlick was part of with the American School of Bombay in their un-plugged event in Mumbai, India. The conference was on using info-graphics and data visualization to expand the learning environment of a student.

This is the comment that I wrote before realizing that I was not allowed to leave a comment on the blog:

Hi Mr. Warlick, my name is Allison Sells and I am a graduate student at the University of South Alabama seeking an alternative masters in Education.  I am enrolled in EDM510 and am to read and comment on the blog of a teacher that has been assigned to me. I will be summarizing my visits to your blog on my own blog by March 4th. Here is a link to my blog. First of all, I love your definition of literacy. Literacy encompasses so much more than reading and writing. It must also involve being able interpret your environment whether it be audible or visual and use all of your skills to become informed of what it is that you need to accomplish. I think it is fascinating that you are able to be part of a global community of learners involved in sharing what you have learned to create a better world for the students of today and tomorrow. I believe that being and innovative teacher who is willing to use the vast resources available via the Internet to expand the opportunities that her students may have is critical in today’s world. Many students may not have the opportunity to travel the world as you have done but by being connected to your thought and the thoughts of others like you they get to experience a global education. I am really looking forward to your future post on the conference and hearing about things that you may have learned that will be useful to teachers in their classrooms.

Comment #4

Mr. Warlick wrote a blog post in 2 Cents worth of Seeking the Shakabuku that included ten tips for attending NCTIES conferences. While most of his comments were aimed at being satirical and the blog was most amusing, he did offer the good advice to come in comfortable clothes with a thirst for knowledge and a desire to meet new people. I was driven to find out what NCTIES stood for because I did not know what he was talking about. On their web page it says that the NCTIES is a membership association for educators and educator leaders engaged in advancing excellence in learning and teaching through the effective use of technology.  I would like to become a part of this group and attend a conference in the future after I become a teacher and can better put what I learn to use in my classroom. If I could comment on his blog, I would have to thank him for his advice and I would let him know that I would bring a huge bag for all the freebies at the exhibit hall and I would be sure to wear my fuzzy horse slippers. I think he would enjoy the humor.