Saturday, May 5, 2012

Project #13: Collaboration

http:media.photobucket.com/image/Geek%20/Squad/Haldrion/GeekSquad.jpg


     My group is called the Geek Squad. The members of the group are Lindsay Curtis, Robert Freeland, and myself. In this post we are supposed to write a summary of how we collaborated about our final project without meeting. It was quite challenging. There were a lot of e-mails and texts sent back and forth throughout the days. The skyping and hangout were really not an option with the group since we had such busy schedules and we were not always around a computer. When we did have access to a computer, we would occasionally use Google Docs. So as I have stated in the beginning, Skype and all the Video Calls did not work. The only form of communication that worked was our Cell Phones. 
   It was pretty difficult to figure out what exactly we were going to do for a Final Project. We wanted to have a different approach to the project instead of just a act on video. We came up with a great idea and I cant wait for everyone to be able to watch it. Below are a picture of what we did.



Sunday, April 29, 2012

Progress Report for PLN

I am amazed at how much I have accomplished and learned since I have been enrolled in EDM 310. I would never have known that there were so many other tools on google besides just the search engine. The one tool that has just blown my mind is Google +. I was surprised that you could do so much with that one tool. My group and I have used this tool on many occasions and it is has helped us a lot. We used the Hangout tool. This tool is similar to Skype and Facebook. You are able to talk to your group through videos, all while typing on a document to them. It is so amazing that you can work on a project with your group, even when you are not with them.
Google

Another great tool with Google is the Google Docs. This tool has been very useful with this class. It is just like email but instead it sends documents that you can either have as view only or you can edit them with your group. It is a great way for you to communicate with your group without being physically with them. It is a great communication tool that should be kept around.
I believe that all the tools I have used in this class are going to be helpful in the future when I start teaching. One tool that I started but never followed through on was Symabloo. It is your Personal Learning Network filed in a spot where you can find everything you possibly need and are using. I am going to start working it more so that I will be prepared and ready for when I start teaching.


C4T Summary for April


This week I was assigned to read Mr. Robbo's Blog. He has a lot of very interesting articles for upcoming Physical Education teachers. I was really glad to see that I was getting a chance to read and look over his blog. It made me more at ease seeing that there was a blog for Physcial Education teachers. When I first started this class I didn't know the reason that I would need to take it for majoring in Physical Education. Now my eyes have been opened to the amazing and wonderful things that can come from blogging with your class. I have learned a lot and hope to continue learning from this class and blog. 

Mr. Robbo, 
Hi my name is Mckinley Kennedy. I am in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 Class at The University of South Alabama. I am so glad I got the opportunity to comment on your blog page. I am majoring in Physical Education and was confused when I realized I had to take this class.I didn’t think that P.E teachers had to know how to blog or even need to set up a blog. But I have realized now that it would be a really great thing for me as a Physical Education teacher to keep a blog up and running. I have really enjoyed getting to look through your post and see all the interesting ideas you have gotten to find. Thanks so much for sharing!
Mckinley.

Blog Post #13

   When I read the instructions of what we had to do for blog post #13, I was shocked. We had to try to go 24 hours without any electronic devices. At first I thought there was no way I was going to be able to do that. I tried, but unfortunately failed. There is no possible way that I could have gone that long without using some form of communication. All the electronic devices that are in my life, have been in my life forever. We are the age of technology. To take technology away from us is like taking all food away. We would not survive. I know that sounds really sad, but it is true.
    It was pretty difficult to cope with not using technology. I tried hard because I wanted to succeed. But in the end there was no luck. I feel that when I start teaching and my children walk in the gym, they will feel good, because I will be using technology. They will see it almost everyday. They will learn dances and do exercises from a big projector. My future students will be associated with technology and will learn a lot from it. It might not be the same way that the students in their regular classroom are learning how to use it, but it will be very beneficial.
   I was glad to see that we had a personal challenge blog this week. I am looking forward to reading how other students did this challenge.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Progress Report for Final Project

For our progress report, we discussed ideas for a video involving EDM 310 and how we will use what we have learned into our futures as educators. Our video will be into the future.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Extra Blog Post: Just some thoughts.

  This is just an extra Blog Post containing to Blog Post #11. I stated that their are some education games for the Nintendo DS. I did a little research and found many games that deal with teaching the student. The games were under the title Edutainment. I find that so funny. It is still dealing with children learning, but they can still have fun at the same time. Isn't that what learning is all about? I believe that if students have fun while learning that it will spark some curiosity. What made me decide to write a post about this subject was the fact that there are so many kids that have a Nintendo DS. Mostly all the games they are playing are killing games. This I believe is promoting violence. I think it is okay that they have some of these games, but why not mix some educating games in there as well? Here are a few games that I found very interesting and I believe that the students would actually want to play. 

The first game I found was My Reading Tutor. This game will help the students learn how to read with also doing activities. This game has 14 books that the child will be able to read. There are games, and activities for every book read. If you want to get on a different track and let your children learn a life skill then there is a great cooking game. It gives the kids over 300 recipes and also gives them a  chance to make a shopping list that they can put the ingredients they will need for the recipe. This game is not only beneficial to the child, but also to the family. It gives the family a chance to have a family night and all put in a effort to help the child cook a great meal. I believe that is very important in a child's life besides education. The last game that really stuck out was FutureU: The Prep Game for SAT. This is a really great game to get students ahead for the SAT. It is a very fun game that lets you learn at the same time.
   There are a lot more games, but I wont mention all of them. I have a better peace of mind knowing that there are education games out there instead of just all video games about war and killing people. I just figured that I would do a little more research on what the Nintendo DS had to offer kids.. Thanks for the time.  Click on this link to see for yourself of what Nintendo has to offer. Nintendo Games


Blog Post #12

Blog Post #12 Due 4/22

Go to www.pecentral.org. Go look through Lisa Witherspoon's blog. See what useful information or activities that Mrs. Witherspoon has blogged about.  What could you do to spark the curiosity of your students in a Physical Education class? Write 2 to 3 paragraphs using Writing a Quality Blog Post. If available send Lisa Witherspoon a thank you Tweet. Mark it #edm310 so I will see your Tweet.



Lisa WitherspoonIf you can tell I am majoring in Physical Education. I believe that looking at other teacher's blogs and looking at what they have come up with or even reading about how they might have changed a student's life that day can make me curious and eager to do the same thing when I begin teaching. The whole time in Edm 310 we have been reading and watching classroom teacher's blogs. I decided to shake things up a little bit and introduce everyone to the world of Physical Education. I have read Mr. Robbo's blog and found it very interesting, but I decided to go to the PE Central website to see what they had to offer.
   While reading and scanning through this great blog, I found a post that really struck me. The title was called So You Think You Can Dance? You don't see many teachers now a days that want to teach the students the different dances. When I was in Elementary School I had a PE teacher that taught us many dances. I remember seeming really interested in learning the dances. I believe that when a student goes home and tells or shows the parent what he or she learned that day at school, that the teacher did their job in sparking the students curiosity. Teachers that just do the same curriculum over and over again will never get the students attention. Lisa Witherspoon suggested this game to make learning dancing fun and entertaining. They have other such related games such as Dance Dance Dance Revolution and Zumba. These are just 2 of the many other dance activities you can put in your curriculum to make kids stay on their toes. Kids love dancing so I know that this would be a great thing to have in the gym.
  I believe that this would be a great plan to put in the curriculum. You not only have fun, but it also keeping the kids active. This is a very good skill for the kids to learn. They will learn different dance, music and other things about the cultures. I am really glad that I found this blog post written  by Lisa Witherspoon very interesting and I will be using something similar to this when I start teaching.
Just Dance

Creativity and Curiosity: My Thoughts-Special Post #12A

   In Edm 310 we have been working with technology and watching videos and reading post about how technology is making its way into the classrooms. I believe that creativity is everywhere now in schools. We just recently had to watch a Skype interview between Dr. Strange and Ms. Kathy Cassidy. It was very interesting to hear about all the great ideas that Ms. Cassidy has come up for her 1st grade class. Ms. Cassidy is a 1st grade teacher in Canada. She has her students doing blogs and working on the Smart board.  That is in Canada, but in the United States I believe that creativity is coming back in the classrooms. By students doing blogs it is increasing creativity, because the students are able to make a blog and write things that they want to write about. It is teaching them many things like being able to read and write, working on grammar, and just learning social skills. If that is not teaching the students creativity, I am not sure what will.
  So far out of all the videos and post I have read in Edm 310 I have seen a lot of creativity come out with the Smartboard. For example, my mom is a Para-Professional at a Elementary School. She works with Kindergarten and 1st grade. In those two grades you learn what are called sight words. As an example those words would be: like, as, I, me, etc. Well instead of just holding up flashcards and letting the students call out the word, my mom and her fellow teacher got creative. The put all the words on the Smart board and covered the words with poppable balloons. Each student would line up and throw a soft like ball at the screen. (Don't worry, it was safe and soft.) When the balloon would pop the word would pop up. The student then would have to say the word. I believe that is really creative. That is giving the students to be hands on in the lesson and it gave them all the opportunity to be attentive. 
  By students having the opportunity to be able to play on a computer increases their creativity. They will be able to see what all is on the computer and be able to realize all that you can do to be creative. When I was in Middle School, we were able to make up stories using Power Point. That increased our creativity and let us be kids and have fun and learn at the same time. As I stated above when the teacher comes up with a great idea to increase the curiosity of the students, I think it makes them more willing to learn. Those students learning their sight words in that class were eager to learn because the teacher made up a fun hands on activity. It gave the students that were probably going to be hands on learners rather then lecture learners the opportunity to learn at a better pace. 
  Since I have been in this class I feel as though I have become more creative already. Watching videos and reading Blog Post that Dr. Strange has assigned us has been a big help in getting ideas for what I would like to do with my classes. I have mentioned this a hundred times in this class, but I am majoring in Physical Education and I was not sure why I needed this class. I was talking to a fellow classmate that is also majoring in the same field as me. He told me that Dr. Strange had assigned him to read and comment on Mr. Robbo's Blog. This classmate told me that I should go to that blog and look around. I did and I loved it. I never realized that a Physical Education teacher could set up a blog for the students. I honestly believe that when I start to teach and I start a blog it will spark an interest in the young minds of the children I am teaching. I have pretty much stated that reading other blogs and seeing how other teachers are sparking a curiosity with the students. But so far in this class I have had more curiosity about learning than I have had in a long time. I believe that this class has helped me become more curious about what I want to teach my students in the future. 
Curious George

C4K Summary for April

This month we participated in the World Blogging Challenge. I was super excited to see that I was being able to comment on a child's blog from a different area. The student I was assigned to for the challenge was Mike. He is a student that lives in Canada. He loves to play hockey and also video games. I really encouraged Mike to keep blogging because I enjoyed reading what he had to write about.

Week 1

On the first week of blogging Mike wrote about how he lived in Canada but he wanted to visit somewhere else like Europe or Hawaii. He wanted to visit somewhere warm since Canada has a cold climate. 

This is what I wrote:
Hi mike.
I was so glad to see that I was commenting on your Blog. I was also very excited to see that you were from Canada. That is the one place I have always wanted to visit. Canada seems like a great place to visit. I like ice skating and snow, but I live in a place where it never snows so I don’t get a great opportunity to go. If you are looking for somewhere to visit, you should go to Europe. I have never been there personally, but I have heard some great things about it. I have some family that lives there so hopefully I will get a chance to go one day. You can go to London, England and go site seeing. While site seeing you can go see Big Ben, The London Bridge, or Buckingham Palace.
Those are just a few of the many places you can go visit. If you also want to there are many places in the United States that you can visit. We have so many states with so many interesting things to do and see. It makes me real happy to see that you want to travel to other places and see what other countries have to offer. I hope that you are able to make it out to see the places you want to visit.
Good Luck,
Mckinley Kennedy

Mike:
Thanks for the great tips on where to go that gave me a lot of help. Canada is the best place on Earth in my opinion. I love living here if you were ever to come here you would love it.
Week 2:
This week I read another blog written by Mike. It was about a game called Minecraft. I am not much into playing video games, so I didnt know much of what he was talking about. But he did a really great job explaining what the game was. After I read his post, I went back and did my own research. 
This is what I wrote:
Hi again Mike,
I am glad I could help give you some ideas on great places to travel. I just read your post on Minecraft. I am no very familiar with the game, but it sounds really interesting. I was never big into video games when I was younger, but this Christmas I got a Wii and I am obsessed. I am not sure if you have one or not, but you should definitely invest in one. After reading your post on Minecraft, I decided to do a little research on the game. It sounds like a game I could be interested in playing if I had the time. You did a great job listing all the blocks that were in the game. Keep blogging and keep up the great work!
Thanks, Mckinley

Week 3:
This week was the last week for the World Blogging Challenge. This week Mike posted about the month of February being a Pink month. It all started because a boy wore a pink shirt and he started getting bullied. So now everyone wears a pink shirt the month of February. I think it is really great that people are standing up against bullies. 
This is what I wrote:
Hi Mike,
I really enjoyed reading your blog and learning so many interesting facts about Pink. Pink is my favorite color and I wear it all the time. It is nice to know that I am standing up for something that is real. It is so sad that children get bullied for such small things. I find it so sad. Thanks so much for posting this great post. Keep up the great work and keep blogging.
Thanks, Mckinley

Since the World Blogging Challenge is over, we were assigned to read another student's blog. It was written by a First Grader in Ms. Kathy Cassidy's Class. It was really hard to read what the student was trying to say considering the student was in First Grade. They are learning to read and write. The student wrote about liking his Wii and Hockey. 
This is what I wrote:

Hi,
It was great reading your post. I am glad that you are really interested in Hockey. I have never really had a chance to get into it. Where I live there was a Hockey team but they moved it. I watched a game one time and it was a lot of fun. I see that you have a Wii too. I just got one for Christmas and I love it. I have not played Hockey on it yet though. Keep up the great work and keep blogging. 
Thanks, Mckinley Kennedy


Sunday, April 15, 2012

Blog Post #11

After watching First Graders In Ms. Cassidy's Class, I was so amazed. In every picture in the video there were kids with Technology. I am so happy to see that these kids are getting a great opportunity to learn such great things about Technology. Every student does a blog in Ms. Cassidy's class and they love.
  Another really interesting subject that stuck out in this video was the fact that they got to use their Nintendo DS. I work at a daycare and do after school care, every afternoon the kids come in the room and play on them. I had some different thoughts on the kids playing them. I was thinking that they could "rot their brains". I would always tell them to read a book, and that they would learn something doing that.  After watching this video, I can see the DS in a whole new way. I have decided that I am going to do some research on the DS so that I can see what all great things it has to offer.  This video was really interesting to watch. The children in Ms. Cassidy's look like they are learning a lot.

Next we had to watch the Skype Interview. This video was made in 2010 between Dr. Strange and Ms. Cassidy. I loved listening to the questions that Dr. Strange asked Ms. Cassidy. I find it amazing that just by the school putting computers in the classroom that  Ms. Cassidy could turn that into the getting her students to blog. After watching this I really feel that blogging could be a big part of my career. I will not only let my students blog, but I will also make my own blog so that the parents can keep up with what we are doing in class during the day.
 After watching all these videos of teachers making a difference in the classroom, it makes me realize that I can make a difference not only with my students but also with technology. In Ms. Cassidy's class, they rarely use a pencil and paper. They are using technology all around. It is so amazing how you can learn so much by just playing around on a computer and the smart board. I have a lot of mixed feelings about technology sometimes though. Should it be used for everything? I don't think so but then again I do. I really enjoyed watching the skype video. It really inspired me.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Blog Post #10

Do You Teach or Do you Educate?

This video that we were assigned to watch was so powerful. I could watch it over and over again and still relate to it in so many ways. I didn't realize that was a true difference in being a teacher and being an educator. I can honestly say that in my education I have a been taught by a lot of teachers. I have mostly had teachers that have been there to just teach, not to be a supporter or a role model to me. I know from experience that those kind of teachers didn't influence me in school. They made the curriculum that they were supposed to be teaching me boring.
    I had one teacher that was a true educator. She was my Spanish and English teacher. I had this teacher for 6th grade English and she was great at teaching and I learned so much. When I got to 7th grade I had a little trouble learning some things. Worried that I was going to fail the class, I went to her and asked if she could help me with what I needed help with. After that day she told me that whenever I needed help to come back. I went back everyday and got help with the confusing things. She would spend all the time that I needed to help me with that work. What I have found with a lot of teachers that I have had, is that they teach you a certain subject and expect you to learn in the hour or so you have for class. If you don't get it, they say "oh well" and they move on.
    This video really inspired me to lean more to becoming an educator instead of a teacher. It is excites me to think that I will have such a huge impact on a student's life when I start becoming an educator. I believe it is really important to be a role model to the students. Teachers need to support the students to reach their goals. I enjoyed watching this video and I was glad that it was assigned this week.


Adventures in Pencil Integration: Don't Let Them Take The Pencils Home

This post was assigned to us was very confusing at first. I had to read it over and over again to realize what was being said. I really think that pencils and paper are not a bad thing. These items cause creativity in a child. That is much more than having neither can do. The person was in this conversation was thinking that pencils were being a distraction and not helping the students learn. I really just didn't understand this post. With students taking home pencils, why would that affect the test scores? Whatever the person was thinking was crazy. Maybe I am being to harsh with the subject.
   As a future educator, I will allow the students to use pencils.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

C4K Summary for March

C4T #3

    These are all the students I had to comment on for the month of March. My first post was to a class blog. They were studying the Titanic and they had three pictures posted on the blog about how they set up the classroom into 1st, 2nd and 3rd class, just like how they had it set up on the Titanic. This helped the students learn how the people were put on the Titanic. It was really great to see what the teacher did to help the students learn. I really enjoyed reading and learning all that the students had to say.

This is my comment that I wrote to the class.

   Hi Class 12.
My name is Mckinley Kennedy. I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class. I was assigned to read your 7th blog post, but I decided to read them all. I really enjoyed reading about the Titanic. That is a very interesting subject to me. I looked at your pictured above and since you are learning about the Titanic, it looked as though the class was spilt into 1st and 3rd class. That is a great way to learn about who was put in the 1st and 3rd classes. Thanks for sharing.



Blog Post #9

Mr. Mclung's Post: What I've Learned This Year (2008-2009)

     In this post Mr. Mclung is reflecting on his first year of teaching in Noel, Missouri. He explains that he did not know what to expect when teaching. He was a young and inexperienced teacher and did not fully understand what was going to happen. I myself can relate to that feeling of not knowing what to expect. That is exactly how I felt when I started the EDM 310 class. I also know that is the same feeling that I will get when I begin my teaching career.
      Mr. Mclung stated that all during college, he felt as though it was all about the teachers. I have never felt like it was all about the teachers, I have always been "put the students first", I feel that as a teacher that you need to think about your students when you are making up a lesson plan or planning something to do that day of class. The same concept goes toward lesson plans. Mr. Mclung said in his post, that "No lessons plans are perfect. The lesson you teach and the one you plan are always different". I agree with this statement 100%. It is fairly rare that you always follow your lesson plan when you are a teacher.
Two important points that I have learned over the years and what I will be using as a teacher is communication and being reasonable. Mr. Mclung mentions those two in his blog.                           Communication is the number one thing that you must use in your classroom. If there is a problem, you need to communicate to work it out. There is no time for drama in the real world. The second point is being reasonable. Give positive feedback to the students. We as teachers need to learn that if the student fails towards their goal, then we need to learn to pick them up.
    The last but very important point that Mr. Mclung touches that I really think hits home is to not be afraid to use technology. Before I started the Edm class I was not expecting to start using technology in my classroom. But now I am wanting to use it in the classroom. It will be a great thing to start using it in the gym as a Physical Education teacher. I cant wait to get my students started on a great learning career.



Mr. Mclung's Post What I Learned This Year (2009-2010)

     In Mr. Mclung's Post, this is his second year teaching. This time he is at a Junior High. That was a whole new ball game for Mr. Mclung. As he stated this year held many first for him as a teacher. While teaching at the Junior High, Mr. Mclung taught Social Studies and History. What Mr. Mclung explained in this post was that with becoming a teacher we have to learn to adapt to all the new things that come towards us. Teachers need to get out of their comfort zone, and not seem afraid to try new things while teaching the students.
      Mr. Mclung really mapped out what the future teachers needed to know before going out in that big scary world of teaching. I am really glad that we were assigned to read this blog. It is like a guide of what I need to know before stepping in the classroom.
     One point that Mr. Mclung stated that really stuck in my head was to let the students think for themselves. In my past schooling I have actually been lucky enough  to have had teachers that have gave me lead way to think for myself. Another point that Mr. Mclung talked about, that I think goes along perfectly with letting the students think by themselves is being passionate about what you are doing. I think that if the teachers are not passionate about teaching then the students suffer. Teachers are role models to their students, and they need to stay positive when teaching.
    I believe that reading this post by Mr. Mclung has really been a eye opener on what to expect when I become a teacher. I cant wait to be able to change lives and really make a big impact on my students.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Project # 14

C4T #3

C4T # 3


This week I was assigned to read Jenny She's Blog. It just happened that the Post that I read had to do with Google +. I am very happy that I read to see that she was using Google + too. 


For the past month, many of us have heard people around the world, raving about Google Plus--unless of course if you live below sea level or under the rock.  I have to admit that I joined Google Plus fairly early because I have friends who are very active in social networking.  And ever since,  my ride with Google Plus has been very pleasant.  I love it totally.  So far it has been just a social networking site where I interact with friends globally.

My views changed dramatically last Monday night when I over heard a family member having a "hang out" with her peers.  This family member is in her final year of completing her degree in Optometry at Auckland University.  There she was hanging out with her optometry classmates discussing about their assignments.  They were eight of them in the "hang out" and I could hear them talking and discussing about their topics and I could also hear them laughing at times assuming that one had given the wrong answer.  It reminded me of the tutorials that I used to attend when I was at university.  To me, this is just awesome, now people do not have to meet in a room in any particular time to hold any meeting.  The seemingly important "tutorials" can be held after hours outside the institutions.  Imagine how much bus fare or petrol money these students can save over a long period of time.  Needless to say there will no excuses like the bus never came or I have no money for the bus fare.

I came across an article while on Google Plus about the possible ways of using Google Plus in the classroom.  This article gave many useful tips about the ways that educators can use Google Plus.  I personally think that "Circles" and "hang out" would be of great value especially for the classroom.  The "circles" can be used to group the students and the "hang out"can used as a teaching and learning tool.  And of course, this is just the beginning of many good ideas to come!


Hello Jenny. 


I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I am so happy that I got assigned to read your blog this week. For our assignment this week we are actually assigned to use Google +. Before this class I had never heard of Google +. Since being in the EDM 310 class I have learned that you can do so much while using Google +. I plan on using Google + when I start my teaching career. Thanks so much for posting. 


C4T #3 Summary


This week I was assigned to read Jenny She's Blog again. I really have enjoyed reading the interesting subjects she has written about. This week she wrote a post about her first experience with Google Plus. I can relate to this blog in so many ways. I was pretty nervous about Google + at first. Now that I am using it constantly, I really like it.


My First Experience with Google Plus


I have been wanting to write this post for a few days but got distracted by my busy life schedule as a teacher.  Today seems a perfect day to do it.

I first heard about Google Plus from a Facebook friend by the name of Nicola D. who lives in Italy.  He has a post on his wall about how Google was aiming at setting up a social net work site that is very similar to Facebook.  I was totally intrigued by what he said and after that I did a bit of reading on the net about the whole thing and I left it at the point.  The next day when I got up from bed, I found out that Google Plus was there for real and Nicola was sending out invites.  I was too late as his invites were all gone!  I felt a little disappointed because I want to be part of it.  Two days later, I tried signing up on G+ without any invite and wah la--BINGO! I got in!  What followed that was unbelievable!  I played with it and circled all the friends that I know very well and of course, Nicola was one of them.   It didn't look very user friendly at first but then I got the hang of it and  after that, it was a journey of no return from here.  I have to say Google Plus totally rocks! Awesome! Awesome!

The privacy feature of Google Plus is most impressive!  Now I can add my family members without offending anyone.  I can post stuff that I want to whatever circle that I prefer.  I have a school circle which consists of only educators and a close friend circle that I can share all things about my life and they won't mind.  And more, I have a crazy circle that consists of people whom I think are geeks and nerds that I can learn stuff from.

Inorder to pay forward, I have also send out invites to my good friends who want them and this make feel good because this is what social networking is about!  Thank you for coming by, my courteous readers! If anyone need any invites, please leave a comment or follow me on G+.

The photo below shows the cup of coffee that I had on Friday at a cafe in Auckland.  I requested Melissa who made the coffee to put the Google plus sign on it--just for fun.  Melissa was thrilled to do it.  She said in her 5 years of working there, nobody had ever made any personal requests before me.



Hi Jenny,

My name is Mckinley Kennedy and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in the EDM 310 class. I have just recently started using Google + and I was a little nervous at first. But after using it for the EDM class I am in, I love it. I have really enjoyed being able to see and use all the neat tools that Google + has to offer. The most interesting tool I have found is the Hangout tool. It is very similar to Skype but it is with Google +. I found this tool very easy to use and a lot of fun. Thanks so much for sharing your blog. I have really enjoyed reading them all.

Mckinley Kennedy

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Blog Post #8

This Is How We Dream Part 1 and 2
By: Richard Miller

While watching this video by Richard Miller, I realized that everything is on the internet. The computer and technology is taking over pencils and paper. Kids will no longer need those once essential items in school anymore. There are so many changes coming in the world and one big change is with technology. As Richard Miller is stating is that you no longer have to send a e-mail or text. There are many more ways to communicate through the computer. Ways like communicating through Skype, I-meet, or Google Hangout.
     I keep reading and watching all these videos and articles that we are assigned and it makes me excited to think that I can use all of these ideas with my kids. I realize that in Physical Education you are not in a learning curriculum like you would be if you were sitting in a classroom. But the way I want to teach in the gym, the students are going to be learning a lot. After having some wonderful Physical Education teachers and being able to see and participate in what they taught, it has given me an advantage to use the same ideas or some better ways to teach my students. One example of what I would be teaching is the different sports. The students would be learning the rules, techniques, and how to play. I can use the computer or smartboard to teach the fundamentals of the sport before they play.
       This all is going to be a big change to students and teachers. But I believe that in our environment now that we can handle change. The change is not coming at us at one time, but it is coming gradually. This will be a great thing for the future and I am totally ready to take this change and use it to benefit my students in so many ways.

Dreams



Blog Post #12 by Carly Pugh

After reading Carly's Blog Post #12, I am totally blown away of all of how creative she is. Carly really took the time on her blog to write all these great things to use for being a teacher and using multimedia in the classroom. After I read her Blog Post #12, I actually read on to other post that she has written. Carly ahas encouraged me to keep writing on my blog even after this class is over. Thanks for sharing everything Carly.

The Chipper Series and EDM 310 for Dummies

When I watched the The Chipper Series I laughed the whole time. How Chipper acted in this video was the way I acted before I enrolled in EDM310. Now that I am in the class, EDM is all that I do. This class has taught me so much about Time Management and how to use my creativity. This was a really great video to watch. Thanks Dr. Strange.

While watching the video EDM 310 for Dummies , I can relate to this video too. When I first began to take this class I was overwhelmed just like the two girls in the video. There were times when I to wanted to throw my laptop down cause I was so aggravated about the work and time that was needed to put into this class. But now that I am in this class I have a different attitude towards this class all together. I enjoy writing post on my blogs and learning about all these ideas that teachers use. I am very proud of myself cause I have now used Time Management. I never did before and I now know that it is important in this class.
     I think it would really be fun to get a group together and make a cool video to set an example for the next group coming into the EDM 310 class. I know that the future EDMer's will feel the sam way I did. I think it would be great to be a good influence for people just like me.
source

Learn to Change, Change to Learn

This was a really great video to watch. They stated in the video that children our their own space. That space would be the "technology space". Children learn almost as much outside the classroom as much as they do inside the classroom. They are right that we need a change in the classroom, but haven't we already had a huge change? our classrooms are filling up with technology. The curriculum that the students learn, they learn off of technology. In this time now the student steps into the classroom already knowing how to use most technology.
   I believe that is an advantage. The students are a step closer to learning more things that they will be learning in the classroom. I personally don't think that there needs to be much more change in the classroom.

Scavenger Hunt 2.0


Step #1: Locate a tool that is similar to Twitter/Facebook and provides a social platform for teachers, parents, and students.
    For this step I used Emodo. After looking over this website, I think it would be a great tool to use in the classroom. I like how it had the same layout as Facebook did. I am reallt going to use this tool when I become a teacher. It is a great website to use so that the parents and students can interact with me and see what all that I will have planned for the year.

Step #2: The Emodo website is actually Free. This is a great thing because you never find anything free anymore. For this website being free you will find more interacting between you and the Parents or students. Many people now-a-days wont pay for social networking.

Step #3: To make a comic strip I went to Pixton. It was a free and easy way to make a comic strip. You coulees choose how long you wanted it to be and also the background color. It allowed you to become the artist for the day.


Step #5: Find a tool to create a poll anywhere at anytime. I found a website called PollCode. It is a quick and easy way to create a poll and it is FREE. Here is my poll.

Do you think that the EDM 310 class will help you with teaching in the future?


  
pollcode.com free polls 

Friday, March 9, 2012

Blog Post #7

For Blog Post #7 we were assigned to watch two videos, The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler and A 7th grader's Personal Learning Environment.

  In the video The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler the narrator introduces the Networked Student. This student isn't like the regular student, this student doesn't use textbooks, pencils, or paper. This is strictly a technology student. The student in the video uses blogs, just like we are in EDM 310. Everything this student does is using technology and social networking.

 The Networked Student     I personally don't think I am ready to teach a Networked Student. It scares me to think that I will soon be in a classroom teaching along side technology. Well atleast I see it that way. Even though I am going to be a Physical Education Teacher, I can still use technology and get my students Networking. When I first started this class, I was not sure why I needed to know how to blog. But a fellow student off mine showed me a great website called Mr. Robbo- The P.E Geek. I browsed through this great website and immediately started thinking of great ideas I could use for my students when I start teaching them. I am totally prepared to start a blog when I become a teacher.
PE Geek

Symbaloo
After watching A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment, I feel as though I am totally unorganized with my PLN. This 7th grade student has all of the tools she is using on the Symbaloo. She gave us a tour of all the tools she uses. This student uses her class blog to look up assignments or topics that will be discussed in class. She also uses tools like YouTube, Facebook, and Skype. After watching this I feel as though Symbaloo would be a great tool to use for my PlN. It is so organized and that is something I really need.

PLN Project #10

     Before registering for the EDM 310 class, I had always gotten on Safari just to get on Facebook or just browse on the Web. I also had never heard of PLN, which stands for Personal Learning Network. The PLN is a set of people and tools that you can call upon for help, or other assistance.
  
    There are a few sites that I have found very useful to be able to call upon people for help, as was said above. Dr. Strange in class the other day showed us, that when doing a group project where we don't have to meet with people, that we can use Google Docs to also chat. This would be while we were writing a project. I just find it so interesting that you can do so much with Google. I always thought it was just a surfing site. It is really been a great thing to learn about.
    I am really looking forward to starting the journey with my PLN.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Project #9b: Timeline

C4T #2

C4T #1
This week I had to read on Eric Langhorst. I found his blog very interesting. Instead on writing just a bunch of paragraphs about what he was going to talk about, he did podcast for each one. To me personally I found this much easier to stay focused and not get bored by reading a bunch of paragraphs. In this certain blog, Mr. Langhorst talked about how he had missed watching the State of the Union address, but he got on Twitter and read everything that happened just because of people's statuses. It is amazing how much Twitter can actually be useful.


Mr. Langhorst,  
My name is Mckinley Kennedy and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I loved listening to your Podcast about the State of the Union address and Twitter. I have a Twitter account but rarely get on it, unless I have to for class. I sometimes like to get on it to see what people write on their statuses about life. I think it is really interesting to read what people have to say, especially if it is about politics. That is where I think Twitter is a good thing. If you miss something on TV, you can always catch up on what happened through the Twitter or Facebook. I enjoyed hearing your points and views on everything that goes on Twitter. I look forward to reading and listening to more of your work. Thank you for sharing.


C4T#2
This week I was assigned to comment on the same teacher. I decided to read/listen to his podcast about Radio Time Machine. This was such an interesting post. I really enjoyed listening to Mr. Langhorst talk about Technology and History. While on a trip, Mr. Langhorst found a old time radio from 1935. He decided to take it home and fix it. Instead he put his I pod in it. It would play throughout the speakers. Mr. Langhorst got some old time radio shows to play on his I-pod, also some interviews and reports. I found this so interesting and I really would enjoy to do something like this too.


Mr. Langhorst,
  
My name is Mckinley Kennedy and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I found your podcast/blog so interesting. I loved how you took the old radio and used it for something. That would be great if you could find another one and put it in your classroom. Your students would find it very interesting. After listening to the introduction of your podcast and hearing the parts of speeches and old radio shows, I am now going to listen to some. I find History so interesting. Thanks for sharing your blog, I look forward to reading more.
Mckinley Kennedy

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Podcast: The Freedom Writers

Blog Post #6

For my Blog Post #6 I had to watch Randy Pausch Last Lecture . Randy Pausch is giving his Last Lecture to a auditorium full of people at Carnegie Mellon University. In this video he is telling the viewers that you are capable of achieving your dreams. There may be "Brick Walls", but they are not there to keep us out. Randy tells us that they are there to prove to ourselves how bad we really want something. Randy Pausch was diagnosed with tumors and given only months to live. He was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and was a true inspiration to all.
In this video Randy explains all of his childhood memories and the ones that really left an impact on his life. Some of his childhood dream included; Being in zero gravity, Playing in the NFL, Authoring a article in the World Book Encyclopedia, Being Captain Kirk, Winning stuffed animals, and Being a Disney imagineer. One of those dreams that did leave an impact on his life was football. Randy stated that he got more from his football dream than any of the other things that he did accomplish. He could thank his coaches for that. He had an intimidating coach that played at Penn State. Randy remembers his coach riding him real hard at practice one day, he didn't know why till someone said that it was a good thing. When coaches see you doing something wrong and they don't say anything, that means they have given up. Critisism can be a good thing sometimes.
In his first year at Carnegie Mellon, he started a class called Building Virtual Worlds. This class brought together 50 students from Art, Design, Drama, and CS. They would spilt up in different teams and build Virtual Worlds. These students the first time shocked Dr. Pausch. All of the projects were amazing. He came back the next day and told them that the projects were good, but they could do better. How would you take that if your teacher said that? What Randy saw was that his student's projects ended up getting better and better. That example goes back to critics. The students saw that Dr. Pausch was pushing them to think outside the box and to push themselves.
So who helps you achieve your dreams? It can be anyone from a teacher to a friend. Randy states that he had a lot of support from his parents as well as Andy Van Dom. Randy was working for Andy while he was in college. He was the one who influenced Randy to go to Graduate School. Personally I have a huge support system to help me achieve my dreams. This would all come from my mom. She has been there with me through everything. She always let me try new things and let me experience things that some children are never able to do. I think that is why I am so excited about being a teacher. I will be able to share all of my life experiences with the children and be able to understand and know what their dreams are. That way I am able to help them achieve those dreams. As many people have done for me, I am ready to push my students to do great things because I care.
I really enjoyed watching this video by Randy Pausch. It was a real eye opening video and one that I will never forget. I cant wait to be able to start teaching and help students achieve their dreams!
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/images/200709/20070919pprandypausch_500.jpg

Saturday, March 3, 2012

C4K #1

C4K #1
    
     For the first week i had to read anna rip's blog. She wrote about how cool it would be to open a teacher store, so that all the teachers could go into the store and get essential items they need. Here is what Anna wrote in her blog and what I commented back on. 


Anna Ripp


If I can, I will open a store  for teachers. My store will have everything that a classroom needs, and some that it doesn’t. I will call it Teachamania, it will supply things like desks, or computers, things that most classrooms have, and also smart boards, overhead projectors, and big versions of the basic objects needed so that the whole class can see. There will be isles for each subject and grade, and even a classroom for other children taught  by me!people from any grade may come, but at different times, maybe,  one day we have science, then the next we have art. I would love to make and teach Teachamainia.







Hi Anna Ripp.

  
   My name is Mckinley Kennedy. I am a Student at the University of South Alabama. I am majoring in Physical Education. I love your post about opening up a teacher store. That is a great idea for teachers to be able to get all the necessary things they need for their classrooms. It is really hard for teachers to get the materials they need for their classrooms because of funding and also approving it. But with your great idea it would be a breeze for teachers.


Thanks for sharing, Mckinley Kennedy

C4K #2

This week I had to comment on Dawson's blog. I loved reading his post about Christopher Columbus. He had so many interesting facts about him that I didn't even know. Columbus brought earthworms and horses over to the new land. When i was in school I don't think i remember reading all the facts and points that Dawson pointed out. I think if i had I would have been more interested in learning more about him. 

Dawson's Blog




The Columbus Castle has a hand made wooden door. The Castle is very old and big. The Castle looks grayish it has a cross on the top. The Columbian Exchange it had a lot of diseases. I think that it is about how diseases traveled from one to another and kept on spreading one diseases is Small Pox.Wen Columbus came he brought Earthworms and Horses. He took tomatoes and potatoes for Europe. Wen Columbus set sail he made a deal wit the king and Queen. He said that he wold own lots of the ocean and some of the land. Can you believe that Columbus brought earthworms to the new land, so be fore we did not have earthworms before Columbus.Did you know that they named 50 towns after Columbus. Did you know that Columbus was Admiral of the Ocean Seas.

Hi Dawson. 
My name is Mckinley Kennedy. I am a student in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed reading your blog about Christopher Columbus. There were so many great facts that I didn't even know about him. I thought it was really interesting that he brought earthworms and horses with him on his journey. I would have never thought earthworms would have been an item to bring on a ship. But you did a great job with providing a lot of interesting facts. It helped me learn just a bit more about Christopher Columbus that i never knew. Keep up the great work and enjoy blogging.


Thanks, Mckinley Kennedy


C4K #3


This week I had to comment on Rhiannon's Blog for Mr. Avery's class. The blog was about their Christmas vacation and how in Austrailia it is 6 weeks long. Rhiannon talked about all that he did on his vacation. I am quite jealous about all the fun stuff he got to do. He got to go surfing and hang out with his friends.


C4K #4


This week I got to post on Mrs. Yollis's class blog. The first post I read was about how they had a fire fighter come visit their class. It was a student's dad. He showed them all the equipment and how fast he could put it on. It was so interesting to read the post. I felt as though I was back in grade school again.


Dear Mrs. Yollis and Class,  
My name is Mckinley Kennedy and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed reading the blog about having Ellie's dad come to your class. I have always been really interested in learning everything that firemen do. I remember back when I was in grade school and we visited a Firehouse. It was a real experience to see the trucks and where they have all their equipment. It is so great that Ellie's dad could share everything he knows with your class. I loved watching the video to see how long it would take to put the equipment on. You have to be really fast to put all that on. Keep up the great work and I really hope to read more about what all your class is up too. Thank you for sharing.  


Thanks, Mckinley Kennedy