Week 6 Blog

Dr. Christie's Last Lecture

Wow!! Dr. Christie's last lecture is really intense. She reminds us that life is about learning new things. we are learning every day, even if we do not know it. We are learning to love, succeed, hope, and cope with anything around you. She also mentioned that we learn from everything around us. Information does not have to come from other people; it can come from anywhere whether it is experimenting, seeing, hearing, smelling, or feeling. She believes that it is important to embrace our learning skills and it will all build up to our success.

I totally agree everything that Dr. Christie said. I will use all her advice, especially the advice about no one being perfect. I know I am not perfect and I do not want to be perfect. I want to thrive on doing my best and continue to learn, so that I can be good enough to be myself. She also mentioned that it was important to have fun with what you are doing. I strongly believe that is important because if you are not going to have fun with what you are doing, then you will never be satisfied. I had planned on being a Marine Biologist, but I realized that I love dance and English more than I love Biology. So since I would be happy with English and dance, I am majoring in Secondary Education English with double minor in business and dance.


iTunes U

I think iTunes U seems interesting. It is also useful because it is another way to gain knowledge about what is going on around you. After all, not everyone will be able to afford education or attend to class every single class, so this will help each person to stay updated with their learning. People can download anything they want to learn about from iTunes U and it is cost efficient. After all, most lectures are free. You can check out this video on how to use iTunes U and its purpose through this website, http://www.apple.com/education/guidedtours/itunesu.html.

I decided to go on to iTunes U and check a lecture in the English/Literature department. I watched the episode lesson 38: The Return 2 by Dr. Joseph Hughes from LLT 121: Classical Mythology. I like the whole setup that the professor was being videoed during class. This way students will learn firsthand at home as if they were in class. Some of the things I learned in this lessons are: Scheria is the island of the Phaeacians, Penelope cannot do certain things because she is a female, Odysseus was in charge of the ship named Odyssey, and other things like how these people live their lives and their cultures. Interesting stuff; however, the teacher looks like he could use an energy drink. I do not mean to be rude about it, but I believe it is important to keep your audience interested in what you have to say.

I may consider using iTunes U in the future. I would not want my students to miss out on anything. But we will see when the future comes around.


Ipod

I found an articles about teachers seeing Ipods as educational tools, which kind of surprises me because back in high school, ipods or other mp3 players were not allowed in classrooms. We had to either not bring it to school or keep it in our locker. Now, at Jamestown Elementary School in Virginia, teachers are saying that they can use ipods to read parts of a book, do interviews, record field trips and post them, and so much more. They would also do podcasts because they allow more interactive communications. Camilla Gagliolo, the school's technology coordinator, believes that it makes sense to use ipods as educational tools because kids are so drawn to them. They are excited about them and they are so comfortable with them. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2002571859_podschool20.html
Their experience with ipods sounds useful and educational.

Duke University distributed 20GB Apple Ipod devices, each equipped with Belkins Voice Recorder, to over 1600 entering first year students in August 2004. Students were using ipods for audio courses, which reported that Ipods increased the frequency and depth of student interactions with audio course content through portable and flexible access offered by the ipods. Ipods allow students to have portable access to course content, to record lectures and discussions in classrooms, to record field notes, interviews, and environmental settings, to help students successfully study for the materials they have learned, and to store and transfer files they need. Many students and faculty find that using ipods are very useful because it ensures a better way to communicate interactively and a more efficient way to learn. You can find more information about Duke University's use of Ipod through this website: http://cit.duke.edu/pdf/reports/ipod_initiative_04_05.pdf


Technology Literate Teacher

I believe that teachers should be literate enough with technology just to get by but at the same time, I think it is important that they will be willing to learn new things about technology. What I am trying to say is that teachers should not be perfectly literate with technology because it is not possible, just like it is not possible to know every single thing in the world today. Only God can know every single thing. We can only do so much. We as teachers should keep an open mind about technology; however, we do not absolutely have to know every single thing about technology. I know I would not be able to know everything about technology.