Blog Assignment #2

Flipping the Classroom
I had never heard of "flipping the classroom" until watching this video, and I dont know how effective it would be. The concept of flipping the classroom is to have teachers record their lessons and have children view them at home. Not all students learn at the same pace and some get left behind along the way. Flipping the classroom allows students to have the ability to pause, rewind and rewatch the lecture at home. In the classroom the students will know the content before hand and have class time to do hands on activity. I have many concerns for the "flipping the classroom" strategy. I feel this method may be too technology challenging for level 1 students and what about the children that do not have computers. Also, students are at school 7 hours a day and then to go home and complete multiple classes or subjects online may be to much for them. I would like to consult a teacher who has used this logic before to see how they have benefitted from it, or try it out for myself.

Professor Dancealot
When the video begins, Professor Dancealot introduces himself and the purpose of the class from a power point. While he’s going through the power point he does demonstrate the dance moves presented on the slides, but there is a large podium and desk right in front of him preventing the class from being able to see what he’s acting out. One student actually attempts to stand, watch the professor’s feet, and carry out the presented dance move, but the professor commands him back to his seat. He assumes every student understands what to do, so he proceeds to the next lesson without further explanation. His students were falling asleep, and by the end of the semester the class has decreased triple the amount. When the class reached the final exam, which was not a paper and pen test, everyone meets in the ball room and Mr. Dancealot turns a video camera on, tells them to start dancing, and he leaves. The students' cannot even imagine how to begin because they weren't shown basic skills in the classroom.
This video shows why it is important to have hands on learning not just lecture. A teacher is supposed to teach how students can best learn. The conclusion shows the extent of
When a class as a whole does not understand a concept, this should let the teacher know that something needs to be done differently for positive results to occur. There is always a way to get students “hands on,” involved, and up and moving in the classroom, especially in a dance class. Teachers must be willing to discover different learning styles and carry them out. Learning in different ways ultimately aids in students being engaged in what they’re doing and helps them to actually learn and remember the material for future use.

Teaching in the 21st Century
By Kevin Roberts

Kevin Roberts' Teaching in the 21st Century is very clear that the future of education is changing dramatically. Pencil and paper are now considered “old school,” while laptops and iPads in every classroom is becoming normal. The world is constantly changing around us and with it, education. Students are no longer satisfied, if they even ever were, sitting still and quiet at their desks while completing in-class work sheets that relate to the topic of the day. Engaging students in current technology and information by teaching them how to use it properly and effectively has incredible results. Teaching them how to, in Roberts’ words, “remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, and create.” If teachers are not open to endless possibilities that technology can administer, such as a enormous variety of information through blog posts, Twitter and Facebook discussions, which betters student’s communication skills, Google searches, Youtube videos, Skyping with other students around the world to learn different cultures and ethnicities, constant current events at their fingertips, and so much more, their students are going to miss out on numerous opportunities to learn skills that are essential in applying to real life situations. Learning is not memorizing facts in a textbook to be able to record those temporary memorizations onto a written test. Roberts emphasizes that “Teachers are no longer the main source of knowledge, we are the filter.” Students have the means to search for anything they desire and at the press of a button it is instantaneously in front of them.

Curriculum should be centered on skills rather than facts and content. Teaching them also, the dangers of plagiarism, pirating, copyrights, and what to do when certain problems arise. Technology haters often bring up the fact and question of how to control misbehaving students who bring laptops, iPads, and cell phones to school. Roberts says, “The tools provide temptation, but they are not the source of negative behavior.” Students only lack creativity when you rob it from them. They should be challenged to get up out of their seats and learn in new ways using new tools, while the teacher monitors whether it is relevant, challenging, and engaging. Another argument is that students should not need to be entertained constantly. Entertainment indeed should not be the goal, but rather, engagement should be the focus. Students get enough meaningless entertainment throughout their lifetime without us adding to the madness. Engaging students is the key to long-term skills that stick. It is the way in which we will provide students the opportunity and skill to learn and think for themselves.

The Networked Student
By Wendy Dexler
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XwM4ieFOotA&app=m
A network student is one who utilizes the internet to learn about a particular topic. This type of student doesn't just use the typical search engine though, this student has subscribed to blogs, uses google scholar and is in contact with other students and professionals that blog, write, lecture or work in the particular subject of interest. Being networked helps students to learn on their own. Subscribing to blogs and other websites and using an RSS feed and a PLN, a personal learning network, to stay organized, helps the student to stay up to date with any new information on any topic.
In this video, the question "Why does a networked student need a teacher?" is asked. Simply put, the teacher is the student’s guide. While there are no textbooks and lectures in a classroom based on networked learning, the teacher is still a necessary tool. A networked teacher guides the students through the creating of their PLN. The teacher also gets the students started in their networking by linking them with people he or she may already know. While the teacher doesn't actually teach the students about the topics of interest, she does teach them how to find that information.
I personally would like to be a networked teacher. I enjoy being hands on with the students and teaching them everything I can, including how to use different resources. When I hear this topic I automatically think of the extreme of students sitting at a computer, never being in a real classroom environment, but I know it goes way beyond that. I am all for adding new resources to the classroom, and using computers appeals to me.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
By Vicki Davis
In South Georgia, Vicki Davis writes a popular blog but her main focus is teaching full time. She believes every student can learn but its harder for some with just paper and a pencil. This IT director uses every kind of technology to connect her students to the world. Vicki accomplishes curriculum while customizing the classroom with each students strength and interests. Vicki uses a program in her classroom called “Open Sim”. This program lets students host a virtual world. The students taught themselves and each other how to work this program better. There is also a project called “Digi Teen”. This allows students to post about different topics for other teachers and students to look at it blog about it. There is also the “Flat Classroom Project” this lets students interact with other students all over the world. In January 2009, Vicki and some of her students traveled to the Middle East to attend the “Flat Classroom Project” conference. She believes the idea of empowering students to share with one another can create a better classroom. I agree with Vicki on many levels, I believe anyone can learn and we never stop learning. Allowing students to communicate with students all over the world allows students in her class to learn about new trends and culture in other places.