So what am I really doing?

I had someone ask if I could show any of my actual work on my blog today....well, it is funny that they should ask!!!
The class that I am taking right now is all about using technology in the classroom - and no, it is not about shortcuts and avoiding literacy.  Nor is it about students 'having it easier'!  It is about giving them tools to compete in a technologically driven world, it is about providing experiences to produce problem-solving and critical thinking through all kinds of media; to include computers, iPads and so forth.  It is all pretty cool, motivating for children in the classroom and gives today's teacher so much more to work with.
My current project is something called a WebQuest - basically a lesson plan that is created on a website.  The students follow the instructions and fulfill a task.  I am lucky enough to be working with two fabulous students and the three of us have been having a ton of fun - and all plan to use elements of our lesson in the future!

So, here it is - my example of the work that I am doing right now.  As of today, 5/17/12, this is not yet finished, but will be submitted Monday evening, so it had better be finished by then!  Check it out today and then come back to it later.  
Tell me what you think! 
Do you think that it is just wasting time playing on the Internet (they create a social media page, for goodness sakes!)?  Or do you see it as a way to motivate students towards thought and deeper learning?  Let me know!  Of particular interest to those of you who think that teaching is just 'coming up with lesson plans', is the Teacher Page.  See the standards adhered to and our reflections about potential learning.

Here is the link:  "Friend Request an Olympian"

Ed Tech & Design!

So, after years of figuring all of this stuff on my own - or with help from those around me - I am actually in a class LEARNING how to use these tools - from Twitter to Diigo (that was a new one), some things are actually beginning to make sense to me; and it is getting to be even more fun with new ideas and 'how to' being offered by my professor!  Hey, maybe this $1,000.00 for a summer class will be even more worthwhile than I initially thought!
So, I will continue and expand this blog - so help me out and claim that you are following me (I know that a bunch of you are, but only three people show on my screen), feel free to leave a comment, or just respond via FaceBook or Twitter!  Feedback welcome - or, here's an idea, give me some thoughts of what you would like to hear about my life as a student....second time around!
Thinking of getting brave and following in my footsteps?  Check out what YOUR future might hold at www.uni.edu!!!

Digital Immigrant?

A new title to go by! Having interesting times in my summer class, learning about technology & integration of technological tools into lesson plans - good stuff, and fun too.....although there is a little bit of overload going on with constant tweeting, Diigo, and the like. Tonight I read a great article - that despite being about generational divides, avoided being a 'same old' boring dissertation on how generations have differences. It was a fascinating conversation about 'digital natives', born to technology, brains wired to multi-task with iPod, laptop & phone - needing change &movement.....as compared to digital immigrants who were brought up without the tools, and are now striving to catch up. I knew that the author was talking about me when he cited the example of the immigrant printing out the page because it was easier to make notes using a hard copy.....yup, that's me! Of course the more serious point was that we immigrants have to learn to motivate & work with the natives.
So, I guess that I am an immigrant in more than one way! At least this kind doesn't require green card & legal action :)

Photo used with permission, under Creative Commons, by Dubsar Public Relations, Spain at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dubsar/6220041080/

Finals Done - Summer Classes Begun!

Summer classes!  Well, here is a new experience for the old student :)  Summer school was something that I thought that you 'had' to do with failing grades, not something that you choose to pay $1,000.00 for the experience!  But here I am, working through Ed Tech and Design and learning how to incorporate technology into the classroom as a future teacher.  Every day, Monday through Friday, 9am through noon.  Pretty intensive packing of a full semester class into 4 short (feels long) weeks!
Still, a busy class and nice to do as a stand-alone to get out of the way.

Finals week was accomplished with little stress - no real 'finals' per se, just papers and an oral.  Although the Teacher Work Sample did take over my life and I am still reeling from the hours that I put into producing that puppy!  That was probably the most time consuming piece of work that I have ever done; and I am pretty proud of that 100% grade!

We are still awaiting final grades....cross fingers I have maintained my 4.0....it gets harder every semester!

I know that I have let this blog slide and to my secret followers, I apologize (I know that you are out there, even if only 3 of you actually have it recorded on my page!!), but hopefully a complete immersion in technology over the next 4 weeks will keep the incentive to keep everyone up to date alive!  Another new goal for me, to keep the blog alive!

Life is still good.  Still living the dream!  Next semester, more hours, tougher course load, but no work - so poor financially, rich in time to get my work done!  I do have a very part-time job with the Performing Arts Center though, helping to reach out to local schools to assist in extension lessons when they attend performances at UNI.  That should be fun - and I can't wait!

Off to work on my Thematic Unit now - catch you later!

B.

Still here!

It has been so long since I posted; how easy it is to get out of the habit.....
Busy times, but with far more purpose than all the busy-work of all the gen ed classes of last semester. All core classes makes for more meaningful learning, for sure! The class I take this summer (ed tech & design) is one that I am really looking forward to, and next semester will be back at Lincoln! Even the class with the nightmare prof. this semester has good content, with a text book that contains interesting info.....shame I have to have the weekly three hours with the professor....it is PAINFUL!
My fellow students are great this time around too, with one or two standouts! I am still the nerd, but am mostly appreciated.....I hope! There is that one who claims that she doesn't need to do the readings because 'she learns nothing new', oh and the one who never does any homework (& yet maintains a 3.0.....no fair!!!), my cohort girls are the best!
I avoided the rant on the professor who gave everyone's project the same grade, regardless of work accomplished, or the complaining about the one who changed the rules AFTER I had worked ahead & followed the original criteria.......it went from an essay (which I did) to credit for attending a volunteer opportunity (which I also did)......I hate it when hard work is punished.....which circles right back to how you get a 3.0 while not working!!! See, managed to get a mini complaint in there, didn't I?!

Life carries on!

Quote of the week: "Be the girl you were too lazy to be yesterday."

I guess that I am pretty lucky to only have one class that I don't really enjoy this semester - and it is kind of a shame because it SHOULD be a good class - it is the one that goes along with Learning & Instruction....which is why I am 'here' after all! But I will make it through, and thanks to my supportive teacher friends & some really great professors, I will hopefully learn what needs to be learnt, even if the professor evidently is not too interested in making us successful! It just 'sucks' to be living the example of the cliche of the tenured professor who needs to either re-motivate herself or go ahead and retire - for everyone's sake!!

Other than that I am continuing to love life in the special cohort set up at Lincoln Elementary School in Waterloo. I am so happy that I took the plunge to apply for this program; spending 3 days in a real school is so motivating....I love my 4th grade home base class, and am spending far more than my minimum of 3 hours with them each week!!

This week I began my middle school experience. What fun working with 7th & 8th graders at DNH - and an interesting contrast with my 4th grade kids at Lincoln! Now I have a real dilemma, who do I want to teach anyway?! I love them all. I thrive on the constant change & complete experience of elementary, but I do enjoy that middle school age group :). Well, at least the double major means that I can take the job that might be available & enjoy what life hands me!!

So, maybe I will be a middle school English/Language Arts teacher, maybe I will have a kindergarten class.....who knows?!

Time moves forward..

Obviously! But seriously, I am not sure how we are already talking mid-terms & spring break; I feel as if we just started.
Having said that, I met with my advisor today & found myself conversing about classes in Fall of 2013 - yes, really! Forward thinking at its' best....
In the meantime, I taught my first whole group lesson at Lincoln last week. Simple stuff with a 'read-aloud' - preview, prediction & story time. My class was wonderful, and I am finding that I enjoy them as much as my first graders from level 1! So the good news is, there is no doubt that I have made the right decision. Teaching is just what I want to do! Bad news? I have no idea what grade I want to teach; I seriously love them all! My middle level field experience is coming though, so we shall have to see how that goes.
Highlight of the read-aloud lesson? Has to be when Jalen, our 'sometimes difficult, always a character' personality plus, praised my newly colored hair....... and on a more educational note, when the kids all commented on how much 'stuff' there was in the Magic School Bus book that they had no idea was there "Mrs Bryson, I am going to start reading the books and not just watching the TV show, that was way cool"! Success!!