Additional Assignment 3

a.  To me, the most important thing that Sir Ken Robinson said was:  "Many brilliant people think they are not."  This just speaks volumes.  So many children (and adults) are truly brilliant and amazing people, who are capable of learning great multitudes, but they just THINK they can't.

b. I wouldn't say that I necessarily totally DISagre with Sir Ken Robinson, but I am motivated to do research on ADHD in the Eastern parts of our country.  I am interested in studying about whether or not medication is the answer and so on.  I am curious.

c.  Well, obviously we are all in college to earn a degree to make a living off of.  Sir Ken Robinson says that we aren't guaranteed jobs with degrees anymore.  I disagree.  Maybe at this point we aren't guaranteed jobs, but I believe they will come about again.  We are taught in EDM 310 about how doing things like they were done in the past (education, teaching in general, lack of technology, technology illiteracy, etc.) is no longer working; Sir Ken says the same thing.

d.  I can first earn my degree, get a JOB, be a successful educator with a purpose.  I can help my generation learn that they NEED technology, especially in the education field.  I can help raise standards- first for myself, then for my students, and my colleagues.  I can help others see how truly brilliant they are.

e.  I loved the presentation; it was SO NEAT!!  If I were to do this in a group, I would like to be the 'author' and/or the 'narrator'.   

Blog Post 10

http://morgbayda.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/an-open-letter-to-educators/


I liked this video; I know we aren't supposed to always talk about looks and sound, but I liked how Dan Brown spoke one sentence in one place in the room, but in the next breath he was in another part of the room.  It made it interesting, instead of him just sitting there talking.  He also had a nice tone, which is always helpful.  

Now on to the more important things.  I have never even considered dropping out of school.  In fact, I have often looked down on those who do choose to drop out of school.  I feel that getting an education is my only option.  Right now in America, I am not even guaranteed to collect Social Security or receive retirement benefits.  Thus why I think that I should get a degree in something that I love and pursue a career in it.  

I do halfway see where Mr. Brown is coming from.  He is fed up with the way "schooling" is affecting his education.  I understand.  But at the same time, should we really consider giving up on a goal or dream because it isn't going the way we want it to?  Maybe if lots of people were willing to take the risk, it would make more sense to me.   But as of right now, there isn't a whole lot in life that could make me quit school.  I could be getting married right now if  a degree wasn't important to me.  

My point:  Set goals and don't get deterred by the world!


http://techliterateteacher.blogspot.com/2010/03/two-questions-that-can-change-your-life.html

Once again, I liked this video and found it both useful and intriguing.  If this video was used more, it could change peoples' perspective on lots of things.  "What's my Sentence?"  My sentence is: "Think, Dream, Set Goals".   I realize that this may be cheesy; but it's what I live by.  When we think, we can have dreams for our lives.  And when we set goals, we can achieve our greatest dreams.  As you probably can already tell, I am a goal-setter.  I know what I want out of life, and I am bound and determined to get it.  

 

Skype Interview

Blog Post 9

http://attheteachersdesk.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-i-learned-this-year.html


"What I've Learned This Year" by Dr. McClung

I immensely like this post because of how real and honest it is. I really feel like this gives us, as students, an insight to what our first year of teaching will most likely be like.


Dr. McClung says to be flexible, be communicative, be reasonable, don't be afraid of technology, and listen to your students. Obviously all of these are extremely important to a teacher and to a student. Being flexible is important with children because kids will be kids! We shouldn't gripe at children and make them feel uncomfortable all because we cannot be flexible. Dr. McClung says that communication is important in the workplace, and that it is the best way to resolve problems with co-workers.

I feel like being reasonable is something that takes time and practice to learn. Being a reasonable teacher will make the education of students easier to accomplish. Dr. McClung also talks about how adults are so afraid of technology. After being in EDM 310 for a few months, I have come to agree with his statement. I myself have been some what afraid of technology in general. That isn't going to be possible in my generation any longer.

Listen to your students is probably what hit me the hardest in Dr. McClung's post. I liked how he inserted into the post where the child answers that he or she knows the teacher cares about him or her because "he listens to me". Wow! As a preschool teacher, I wonder how many of my children would say that about me! This has given me something to think about, and it's made me realize what I need to work on.

The last thing he said was to "never stop learning". I love this statement! I have always assumed that once I get my degree, that I will know everything. Oh but how quickly I have realized that is NOT the case. We will always learn something new everyday, especially in the world of educating young minds.

"Our job as teachers is to simply pick them up after they fail, dust them off, and encourage them to try again." This is my all time favorite quote from the blog post. In closing, this has been one of the more enjoyable posts I have read. I feel like I can relate to it and can make myself better from it.