Blog Post #2

I   Mr. Dancelot.
The YouTube video about Mr. Dancealot is a comical classroom setting showing that there are positives and negatives to technology. Some practical studies can be illustrated through technology but when it comes to certain subjects , you will need to use a hands on approach as well as utilize technology. It shows that you can not rely on technology alone. Mr. Dancelot's approach to learning can be effective if he were to also give explanation or have the students mimic the video while watching. We as educators must know our students strengths and weakness when approaching
technology for a learning aid.

II.   Teaching in the 21st Century: Kevin Roberts (John Strange Version)
To teach in the 21st century, you must be open to being a student as well as an educator. You have to work twice as hard to stay ahead of your student's ability to utilize technology. As a child you are open to new experiences as you have not began to only understand one method of learning. I believe a teacher should use all resources available to  maximize the students ability to learn. Teachers should be flexible to each individual student, and notice their individual abilities. We as educators should remember that at one time we were all children with the enthusiasm to learn and to be taught.
As a teacher I feel that I will be affected by the students in my classroom asking questions  I do not know the answer. And as a teacher, I should be able to find the answer and give an educated response, therefore I will have to prepare myself to be "ahead of the game" so to speak in technology.

III.   The Networked Student

Connectivism is where learning occurs by a process using diverse connections.Wendy  Drexler gives examples of how the teacher will empower the student to use connections to students and resources through social media to strength learning processes. During this they will achieve building a learning network. The teacher will explain the process of validating websites, find credibility within these resources, and utilize and structure the information into person blogs for a reflection on what has been learned as well as to share these blogs with other peers around the world.
A teacher will be essential to these processes for guidance, communication and resource information, organization of information showing how to validate the information they process.

IV. Harness Your Digital Smarts

Ms. Vicki Davis  argues that children are ready to accept using technology if someone is willing to instruct and learn how to use technology themselves.  She believes you are present to teach children to learn. Showing students how to rationalize and question, give them the tools they need but show them that they are responsible for retaining and applying the knowledge. I fee this is true in any method you chose to implement in your classroom. A teacher must be willing to learn, willing to admit mistakes and not become close minded about students ability to also teach the teacher.

V.   Who's Ahead in the Learning Race? (response to Dr. Strange) 

In my opinoin, children are ahead on learning for several reasons. They have not been exposed to the method of "brain washing" to learn. They have not been thrown into a classroom at age 3 and expected to quote back facts. Everyone is taught how to begin to learn at home. With technology more wide spread among young parents , such as cell phones and tablets, it is no wonder a 5 year old would be able to use a Mac Book or Ipad relatively quickly. 
In 1986, I was introduced to the public school system in Alabama, I remember being excited to learn and all we had then was a paper and pencil. I remember my mom being excited as I advanced to see textbooks being used in classrooms because when she was in school textbooks were a luxury. Children learn based on how parents, teachers and other influential adults present education to them. Children can learn in any environment, any means of resources and any instruction if the teacher shows enthusiasm and knowledge. So while I agree with Dr. Strange , I also believe the teacher is ultimately responsible for her student's ability to learn.

VI.  Flipping the classroom

This concept is new to me. I was educated in the 1980s during a more traditional approach to education. I do believe that having lessons at home the night before a school day would be beneficial. But I also question the cost of this, some students may not have the ability to view lessons at home. What if a student is unable to use media anywhere but the classroom. Society has advanced greatly, but there are still children living in poverty who would not have access. 
There are no doubts that the benefits of such a concept would outweigh the cost. But what is the cost to the poverty stricken student?

VII.  Bringing the Locker Room into the classroom

The discussion of bringing the locker room to the classroom  is a fun and exciting concept of getting students to work together for the common goal of knowledge. Using a "playbook" similar to the rubric method of evaluating learning skills and concepts of each individual student seems to be an approach most educators could appreciate. You can use many methods that coaches utilize to promote teamwork, responsibility for oneself, and rewards for achievements. For example, if you assign a paper be written on any given topic and that the student should post and discuss their papers among classmates, you are then imposing a competition, a psychological development, and a open discussion among the students that in the end could become a group project to compile data. I would like to use this method with Kindergarten or lower elementary children on book reviews and comprehension.