Recent Changes

The Thornburg Article
Quotes I like:
"In a time of drastic change it is the learnerswho inferit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists." p. 4
"We look at the present through a rearview mirror. We march backwards into the future." p.8
The most important goal to visualize for the future of education is that teachers will be ready to use and teach with technology. Education is changing and so is technology. Teachers will have to become adequate learners of technology for themselves as well as for their students. There are so many opportunities out there for teachers to partake in that will broaden their knowledge of technology, hiw to incorporate it in the curriculum. We have to because our children are technology-oriented and will settle for anything less. We have to be able to move forward and learn by doing.

We have to keep up with the face pace changes in technology or get left behind and become obsolete. We cannot limit ourselves to the four walls of our classrooms when there is a whole world out there steadily revolving. it will take time to become adequate learners and doers of technology and that's okay. But we must be willing to grow technologically.

Will be be able to prepare our students for the 21st century, if we don;t prepare ourselves? How can we expect our children to grow when we want to remain stunted?

Google tools
this site has everything(resources) a teacher will need at one site with instructions on use of each tool.LOVE IT!!!!

Edutopia handout
thinkquest.org is good for collaborating with students around the world. The site help students, hook-up with students around the world to collaborate ideas and projects.Very good web-site!!!

introduction
I am Renelda Windham from Aliceville, Alabama.I have 2 girls, N'deya(13) and Isreal(3)and a 80 year-old mom that act like she is 60 year-old(they are a handfull). I have an BS Drgree in Business, Masters in Counseling/Psychology and I am now getting my Masters in Special Education. I need a job to paid me for for my Masters Degree. I work at UCP of West Alabama in Northport,AL with a grant-- Childcare Enhancement with a Purpose, I am the program specialist. I love my job; going to childcare centers, head start centers and other agencies and conduct trainings in child development that are DHR approved.

2. Classrooms will be connected to one another and to the outside world.
This is true on so many different levels. Children are like sponges and we must keep in mind that they are also literal in the sense of how they may perceive and derive the information that we present to them. We may not reach out think that we are reaching them, but then they progress to the next grade level and we see the little things that they did master as skills and take with them into someone else's classroom. It is important for us to prepare them for things that they will encounter when they move to the next grade level. They will keep building upon all of the skills and tools that we as educators, equip them with, so the importance lies within the quality of what we teach, not so much the quantity. In my opinion, anyhow.
Christina Lee
What other questions did you think of as you read the article?
How are students going to perform academically in households that do not have access to computer and inernet use if technology because a large factor in elementary and secondary education?
Its okay to envision a future, but where is a concrete plan? M. Jones
How will we keep up in the fast paced world that we live in and nurture our new aged generation of youngsters is there is NO FUNDING to do so???
Christina Lee

We look at the present through a rearview mirror. We march backwards into the future. p .8 M. Jones
"The biggest enemy of excellence is 'good enough'." If we expect excellence from our learners, we need to expect it from our teachers and institutions as well.
"In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists."
Christina Lee
Which of Thornburg's 5 goals to realize the vision for the future of education do you think is most important and why?
4. Teachers will be ready to use and teach with technology. I think that educators will be forced to keep up with the changes of tecnology in order to be successful in the classroom. I think that they will have to be able to use and teach with technology in order to stay up to date with the numerous changes in society. p.8 Yolanda T.
1. Modern computers and learning devices will be accessible to every student. I think that it is important because although the traditional way of learning does not specificly involve computers, children will have some type of computer knowledge whether it be through a PC, ipod, ipad, etc. And with each child having access to a computer it can also help the teacher find different ways of learning for a student who does necessarily learns the traditional way. p.8 M. Jones
2. Classrooms will be connected to one another and to the outside world.
This is true on so many different levels. Children are like sponges and we must keep in mind that they are also literal in the sense of how they may perceive and derive the information that we present to them. We may not reach out think that we are reaching them, but then they progress to the next grade level and we see the little things that they did master as skills and take with them into someone else's classroom. It is important for us to prepare them for things that they will encounter when they move to the next grade level. They will keep building upon all of the skills and tools that we as educators, equip them with, so the importance lies within the quality of what we teach, not so much the quantity. In my opinion, anyhow.
What other questions did you think of as you read the article?
How are students going to perform academically in households that do not have access to computer and inernet use if technology because a large factor in elementary and secondary education?

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Greetings! I am Dr. Laurie Fowler and will be your guide and instructor for ED 505 this summer. I am very excited about showing you all the wonderful things technology can do. I am married to wonderful guy, Gus Davis, who is a retired teacher and artist. We live in Tuscaloosa and are very involved in our church, Canterbury Chapel Episcopal. I love being a geek girl, but I also enjoy reading, watching movies, and walking when possible. I also like to take pictures.
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Hello. My name is Christina Lee and I am a twenty nine year old graduate student at the University of West Alabama. I currently have a bachelor of science in Elementary Education, and am pursuing a master’s degree in Education. Having a love for adventure and an eagerness to learn, I enjoy trying new things. Some of my hobbies include Scuba Diving, Painting, Drawing, and Photography. An artist, a mother, and a student, I enjoy working with children creating art. I feel as if art is important for children at a young age because it gives them an outlet for creative self-expression and also a means of communication. I myself, found a love for art at a young age, and have been very blessed to have encountered people throughout my childhood who have aided in helping my love for art flourish. My advisor, mentor, and confidant gave me a fabulous opportunity several years ago to teach an art lesson to young elementary students at Sumter Academy. As I was presenting information about Pablo Picasso to these young children, I knew that instant that teaching and integrating the Arts, was "my true calling." My son Jackson Lee Dickerson is almost five years old and has truly been my inspiration. Being a single mother and a student has not been an easy journey, but the obstacles I have overcome, the goals I have met, and the tasks that I have yet to achieve, have taught me that an individual who is driven with motivation and determination, can accomplish almost anything they put their minds to. Over the last couple of years I have met talented instructors and administration who have inspired me to become some of the wonderful teachers that they are. I hope to develop into an effective teacher with exemplary role model behavior whom not only inspires her students, but also instills in them necessary and valuable skills or tools, that they can use in their futures.

3. http://googletools.barrow.wikispaces.net/
What an informative wikispace!! There were links that ranged from any, all, and most of the technology tools that we have been exploring in our ED 505 class. All of these tools offered here are additive resources for your own classroom. So many lesson plans can be derived out of all the helpful tools that are offered here. There is even free software downloads linked to this particular wiki. Any ideas and suggestions are always welcomed when it comes to new lesson plans and activities that can really get a group of students going in my classroom or educational setting. I am always in search of new ways and ideas for instructing important ideas and key concepts to the students that I teach. Any interesting idea, activity, game, or computer program is sure to get the youngsters going and engaged in the lesson which you are trying to teach. Why not make it interesting for them? Atleast they will participate and possibly have a chance at remembering information in which you are telling them about, more importantly, some of these tools are ways that you as an educator can bridge those connections for the students who may use this as a learning mechanism.
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http://www.googlelittrips.org/
Googlelittrips.org may be somewhat difficult for very small elementary children but it could be an excellent Unit or block for high school aged kids. This would get students excited about literature, history, or social studies lessons. Some students generally are not crazy about reading but if you could get them involved in an interactive project where they use the computer to learn about important icons in our history, they do not even realize that most of the time that they are reading for information. This is somewhat difficult to navigate but the overall idea is ingenious. Kind of reminds me of Carmen SanDiego.
I dig it!! :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hasumide/sets/72157621997267754/show/
7. Post about Google Tools
Exploring Google for the Classroom
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http://sketchup.google.com/
http://docs.goodle.com/View?docid=dc837t9h_12g2pxr6
Experience the 3D world
More Google tools to use with SketchUp:
Google Earth
Google 3D Warehouse
Building Maker
Make buildings for Google Earth
This fabulous tool can be used in several grades throughout the school system. It can be great for teaching students geometry ideas or even assist them in a social studies project involving communities and/or map making. This really is a great webtool supplied by google that can really get students thinking about buildings and landmarks in a larger perspective.
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http://gelessons.com/lessons/#HowTo
Not always will there be a perfect tutorial or browsing session for both students or teachers. Sometimes we need an extra push or hand to help us navigate our way through unfamiliar websites or webtools. This is perfect because it provides both minilessons and student or teacher focused "how-to's" which are geared to help the "learner" achieve and master skills and webtools that are offered by Google on the internet today. This is a good way to get students at a young age started on mastering computer programs that are actually valuable tools that they can use in both their highschool, college, and adult careers and paths. Definitely a must try in your own classroom. What could it hurt?
3. http://googletools.barrow.wikispaces.net/
What an informative wikispace!! There were links that ranged from any, all, and most of the technology tools that we have been exploring in our ED 505 class. All of these tools offered here are additive resources for your own classroom. So many lesson plans can be derived out of all the helpful tools that are offered here. There is even free software downloads linked to this particular wiki. Any ideas and suggestions are always welcomed when it comes to new lesson plans and activities that can really get a group of students going in my classroom or educational setting. I am always in search of new ways and ideas for instructing important ideas and key concepts to the students that I teach. Any interesting idea, activity, game, or computer program is sure to get the youngsters going and engaged in the lesson which you are trying to teach. Why not make it interesting for them? Atleast they will participate and possibly have a chance at remembering information in which you are telling them about, more importantly, some of these tools are ways that you as an educator can bridge those connections for the students who may use this as a learning mechanism.
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