Blog Post #2

Professor Dancealot

The central message that I found while watching the Youtube video is that students should be able to learn independently.  As a teacher, teaching students should not be done be using the book and other resources only.  Students should be able to be told some of the information and the students should be able to learn the information on their own.  The author made his case for the conclusion by telling the students when the final exam will be held and where. The students were probably thinking that, by the dance class being taught by powerpoint, the final exam would be a written exam. So to their surprise it wasn't.  The students were not able to perform the dance steps that they were told. I agree with this conclusion because if a teacher tells the students everything that they need to know for the test they will eventually forget what the teacher has told them. A student need to practice what they are being taught and to find the information on their own in order to learn and understand the information.




Teaching 21st Century Students

I. Teaching in the 21st century
II. Information can be found
A. On Anything
B. Anytime
C. Anywhere
D. Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google
III. Teachers are resources, not the main source of information.
IV. Students process information by:
A. Remember
B. Understand
C. Apply
D. Evaluate
E. Create

As technology changes, the ways teachers teach also changes.  New things are created everyday and a teacher should be able incorporate the new technology into teaching. Students should be willing to engage in learning. Introducing them to new technology and using the technology that they know about will help them to actively engage in learning.


The Networked Student

I think that the way technology is increasing so rapidly, eventually learning will be the way it is shown in the video. Teachers might not be needed as much, but there will still be a need for teachers.  Teachers need to introduce the students to the new information and show them how to use it.  Teachers also need to address issues that the students may face and to correct students when they are wrong. Students also need to be taught how to utilize technology properly.



Harness Your Students Digital Smarts

The thesis of this video is empowering students in learning.  Students learn in different ways.  What is convenient for one student, might not work for another student.  Sometimes the students can show the teacher somethings when it comes to technology also.  By communicating with people around the world, students learn also.



Who's Ahead of the Learning Race?

In this video, Dr. Strange compared Elementary students to Undergraduate and Graduate students.  I think that Elementary students are ahead in this learning race.  I think this way because elementary students are being introduced to new technology while they are in the prime of their learning.  "We," meaning Undergraduates and Graduates are being introduced to this new technology.  When we were in elementary school we learned primarily using pencils, paper, and books.  As we grew older technology grew with us.  We have to learn how to us it while we are comfortable with learning the way we were taught when we were their age.  My opinion is Macbook are more complicated to use than standard computers.  I recently purchased a macbook and I am learning how to use it.  The things that can be performed on a mac computer can be performed on a standard computer by using a different software.  With the new technology and elementary students being introduced to it at an early age, they are already ahead of Undergraduates and Graduates.


Flipping the Classroom

Although I have never heard of flipping the classroom, I have heard of the technique.  Teachers give the students something to look over that night and it is officially introduced to them the next day.  I think this is helpful to students and also teachers because students can get some knowledge about the material before it is introduced to them and the teacher can spend less time introducing the new material to the students.


Bringing the Locker Room into the Classroom

In my classroom, I world have debates and dialogue.  I think that students can learn more by taking to others and having open discussions about things.  With debates students will be able to get others opinions on topics and learn from them.

Blog Post #1

Before I began EDM310, I was told that this class is hard.  People also told me that it is a lot of work involved in this class and that it is hard to keep up with the assignments.  With that being said, people also told me that I would have a lot of fun in this class.  My fear in this class is that I will get behind to the point that I can not catch up.  I hope this will not happen but it is still a fear that I have.  I have taken some class where most of the work is done independently but I think with this class you have to learn all the work on your own.  This is my first class where I will have to learn all the work on my own.  This also makes me a little nervous but I am comfortable with learning independently.  In all of my other college and high school classes, the teacher would show the class how to do the work.

I think the most difficult aspect of EDM310 would be to stay on top of all the assignments.  I have prepared for this by decreasing the hours I work per week at my job.  I felt that this was necessary so that time would not be the excuse as to why I could not complete an assignment.  

At this time I have no questions about EDM 310 class.

Practice Blog

I. About TaKiera.
II. Why I chose education.
III. 21st Century Educators work.
IV. Passions



Hello, my name is TaKiera Gibbs and I am 26 years old.  I am the youngest of 3 daughters.  I was born in Germany, my father was in the military. We moved to Mobile when I was 2 years old and I have been here since.  I am a graduate from W. P. Davidson High School, class of 2007.  After I graduated I moved out of my mothers house, which was honestly a move too soon so I eventually came back.  I had my son when I was 19 years old and he has been the joy of my life since. He is my motivation to succeed.

One day, I was having a conversation with my mother and I told her, "I think I'm ready to go back to school." I applied for the University of South Alabama and was accepted.  I have been here since January 2011.  My initial major was Nursing.  I received work study for the 2013-2014 school term and I was placed at Forest hill Elementary School. After working with the 2nd graders there, I decided I wanted to be a teacher. 

I would like to be a special education teacher.  I have a passion to help people with special need.  That has always been something that I loved, I also like helping children succeed.  Depending on the level of special needs the child is on, it is more difficult to teach them but I know it is something that I can do.

A 21st century educators work entails a lot.  Technology is increasing everyday so educators have to incorporate technology in their work to get the children's attention. Also the teacher has to make learning fun for the children to pay attention.  If a child is bored, they will not focus and they will do other things instead of learn.

My passion is helping people in any way that I can possible do.  If someone ask me to do something, I will try my best to do it for them.  I am very family oriented.  I love to be around my family.  I don't have many friends so I spend most of my time with my family. I would like to get better at managing my time and money.  I think these skill are need to succeed more in life.

TaKiera Gibbs

This is just a test

TaKiera

Trial run

Before I began EDM310, I heard that it was a lot of work to do and that you have to work for your grade. The person that I was talking to reassured me that I would have fun taking the course and to not be afraid to ask for help. This is my first time having to post blogs and I hope that I am doing it correctly. My biggest fear is that I will not be able to keep up with the assignments. I have been preparing myself to stay on top on my assignments and I am prepared to quit my job if I have to so that I can focus on my assignments. In other courses I have taken, the instructor will basically tell you what to do and you do it. In this course, you have to learn it on your own. The most difficult aspect of this course right now for me would the that there are 16 projects to do in 15 weeks. I am ready for this challenge. I am mentally preparing myself for the workload that this course has. At this time, I do not have any questions about the course. I am nervous about the course and if I have any questions I will ask them.

I. Introduction
II. Finding Myself
III. Education Major
IV. Educators Work
V. Passions


Allow me to introduce myself. My name is TaKiera Gibbs. I was born on June 16, 1989 to Rosia and Kelvin Gibbs in Frankfurt, West Germany. My father, Kelvin was in the Army which makes me an Army Brat. When I was two, my father was discharged from the Army so my family and I moved to Mobile, Alabama to be closer to relatives. When I was 7, my parents got divorced. I am the youngest of 3 girls. LaShanda, who is 9 years older than I, and Tiffany, who is 2 years older than I. I have an Advanced Diploma from W.P. Davidson High School, class of 2007.

I did not go straight to college after I graduated from high school. Shortly after I graduated I moved out of my mothers house to live with a friend. I met someone and fell in love. I began medical assisting courses at Remington College. After a few months, I withdrew because I was no longer interested. Shortly after that, I found out I was pregnant with my son. I knew it would be difficult raising my son with 2 families living in a single family home so I moved back in with my mother. I had my son, JayShawn, on January 21, 2009. I was 19 years old. I still had a lot of growing up to do and a lot to learn. I think my son and I are learning and growing up together. One day I was talking to my mother and I told her, "I think I'm ready to go back to school." So, I applied to the University of South Alabama and was accepted in the Spring 2011 term. Upon enrollment my major was nursing. I decided to change my major to Elementary Education during the Fall term 2013.

I decided to major in Elementary Education after I had work study at Forest-hill Elementary School helping 2nd graders with reading. After working with 2nd graders for one semester, I realized that I really want to be a teacher. I have a desire to help students, especially students with special needs learn to read and write. My passion in life is to help people.

In the 21st century, an educator plays many roles in a child's life. An educator has to teach, motivate, counsel and also be a role model in a child's life. An educator has to ensure that they provide the best background and a solid foundation for a child's learning. An educator has to motivate a child to learn and to think critically. Educators have to be role models so that students will have someone to look up to.

I love math, any type of math. I like dealing with numbers. Most of all I love to help people, especially people with special needs and disabilities. I want to get better at being creative. I do not consider myself as a creative person. I am more of the normal type, I do not think outside of the box too often. Being back in school, I am learning to be creative.