My first C4k this month was Seini at Pt England school in New Zealand. In her blog post titled Pohutukawa She writes about a plant in New Zealand called the Pohutukawa. In her post she explains when this plant blooms, what purpose it has in the wild, and where it can be found. One interesting fact about the Pohutukawa is that it is often referred to as the New Zealand Christmas tree because it only blooms in December.
my comment:
Hey Seini,
My name is Ben Mayfield and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. i enjoyed reading your post about the Pohhutukawa. This was a very informative blog post. I have never heard of this type of tree. I think it is cool that it blooms in december. where I live the only trees that grow in december are Pine trees and Evergreens which are also cut down to make room for farm land. I can see that you are very knowledgeable about this tree. This was a great blog post thank you for sharing.
My second C4K was Brooklyn at PT England school in New Zealand. In Brooklyn's blog post titled Fiafia , she writes three short paragraphs about her experience at a hip hop dance show at her school. In her first paragraph Brooklyn talks about how nervous she was on her way to school. She also writes about how she was very nervous sitting in front of the stage watching the other group perform first. In her second paragraph Brooklyn talks about how she was not nervous once she got on stage and began to preform. She also writes about how much fun she had performing. In Brooklyn's third paragraph she writes about how she would like to be in the Jump Jum or Kapahaka group next year.
My comment:
Hey,
My name is Ben Mayfield and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your blog post about the hip hop event that you participated in. It sounds like you had a lot of fun. Your paragraphs are structured very well, I can see that you are doing well in your writing. I'm sure that next time you can be in Jump Jum or Kapahaka it sounds like you are good at what you do. Thank you for sharing.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
C4T Summary
For my first c4t I was assigned Steve Wheeler. In this blog post titled Personal Devices In Higher Education Mr. Wheeler writes about how todays Universities need a "tech overhaul". Mr. Wheeler writes about how several college campuses are incorporating technology into the curriculum but the university buildings them selves are not equipped to handle the new technology. For example many universities do not have enough charging points in the class room for all the students to plug up their lap tops. He also writes about how universities should adapt the traditional university lecture hall to handle personal devices such as tablets or mobile phones. He states that they should build charging points into the desk into the classrooms or have more Wifi access points in the building, which is something that all EDM310 students know too much about. You can always know who is in EDM310 because they walking around the education building holding their laptops up to try and pick up a Wifi connection.
My comment: My name is Ben Mayfield and i am currently a student at the University of South Alabama. Technology in the class room is starting to become more prevalent not only in university class rooms but in other levels of education as well. I also think that our university lecture halls need a tech overhaul. I also think that some universities like mine are implementing technology in the wrong way. Human interaction is essential in learning. Whether it be with other students or with the professor. Many universities, like mine, are using technology to opt out of actual teaching. For example I recently took a history course that was a blended format. In this format students use their computer or smart phone to listen to lectures and complete their assignments. In the course that I took the lectures that we were assigned to listen to where not lectures from our professor, but lectures recorded from another professor at a different university. To me, this cheapened my education. I can easily just listen to youtube videos posted by different professors on any subject for free, but I pay to attend a university to learn different ideas and points of view from the professors there not ones from other universities. I agree that universities need to move towards a tech friendly environment, but I feel that most universities would take the tech overhaul in the wrong direction to save money and cheapen education.
For my second C4T I was assigned mr. Wheeler again. In this blog post titled Who We Are Mr. Wheeler poses the question; Can you separate your personal identity from your professional identity? Mr. Wheeler goes on to explain some of the comments he got on this question on Twitter. He writes that Identity is a complex issue and wonders if some one can separate their personal identity from their professional one on media social networks. He explains that separating these two identities can be a good idea but allowing them to intermingle is not a bad idea. By allowing your two identities to intermingle they can complement each other or hold one another back when one is becoming too prominent.
My comment: I too believe that Identity is a complex issue. I am currently attending the University of South Alabama for secondary education. I realize that as an educator you must separate you personal and professional identity to a certain extent. In a highschool classroom setting your students have to understand that you are in control which is where your professional identity comes into play, but while teaching your lessons you ca allow your personal identity to complement your professional identity. I believe that ones personal and professional identity should not separated but intermingled and allowed to complement each other. After all when asked the question of who we are, we always take into account both our personal and professional identities before describing who we are as a person.
My comment: My name is Ben Mayfield and i am currently a student at the University of South Alabama. Technology in the class room is starting to become more prevalent not only in university class rooms but in other levels of education as well. I also think that our university lecture halls need a tech overhaul. I also think that some universities like mine are implementing technology in the wrong way. Human interaction is essential in learning. Whether it be with other students or with the professor. Many universities, like mine, are using technology to opt out of actual teaching. For example I recently took a history course that was a blended format. In this format students use their computer or smart phone to listen to lectures and complete their assignments. In the course that I took the lectures that we were assigned to listen to where not lectures from our professor, but lectures recorded from another professor at a different university. To me, this cheapened my education. I can easily just listen to youtube videos posted by different professors on any subject for free, but I pay to attend a university to learn different ideas and points of view from the professors there not ones from other universities. I agree that universities need to move towards a tech friendly environment, but I feel that most universities would take the tech overhaul in the wrong direction to save money and cheapen education.
For my second C4T I was assigned mr. Wheeler again. In this blog post titled Who We Are Mr. Wheeler poses the question; Can you separate your personal identity from your professional identity? Mr. Wheeler goes on to explain some of the comments he got on this question on Twitter. He writes that Identity is a complex issue and wonders if some one can separate their personal identity from their professional one on media social networks. He explains that separating these two identities can be a good idea but allowing them to intermingle is not a bad idea. By allowing your two identities to intermingle they can complement each other or hold one another back when one is becoming too prominent.
My comment: I too believe that Identity is a complex issue. I am currently attending the University of South Alabama for secondary education. I realize that as an educator you must separate you personal and professional identity to a certain extent. In a highschool classroom setting your students have to understand that you are in control which is where your professional identity comes into play, but while teaching your lessons you ca allow your personal identity to complement your professional identity. I believe that ones personal and professional identity should not separated but intermingled and allowed to complement each other. After all when asked the question of who we are, we always take into account both our personal and professional identities before describing who we are as a person.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Blog Post 13: Blog about Blogging
The assignment that I think would have been interesting and fun for this class is what I would call a Blog about Blogging. This assignment would not only be educational for the students but it would play a key role in community out reach that could better our education systems here at home.
Instructions: For this blog you will have to think about the benefits of blogging while utilizing your Personal Learning Network. This blog can be done individually or as a group. For this assignment the students will have to get in touch with a teacher of their choice. Each student must talk to the teacher about how blogging can benefit them in their classrooms. After talking with the teacher the students must post what they have done to their blog through a video, slide show, or a written text. Students also should post pictures from their interviews or discussions to their blogs.
While talking with with the teacher that I used for my interview I realized that many teachers are not utilizing blogging as an educational tool. Many f the teachers at his school didn't even know how to set up a blog and had no idea that a blog could connect them with others around the world. This is why i set up a blogging class for the teachers at this school. In this class I referenced several educators that have expanded their class rooms through blogging. One of which is Ken Halla who was a C4T assignment I had in the past. Mr. Halla has turned his blog into a must read media sensation that many newspapers have written stories about. He has also received a book deal. All because he wanted to connect his class with others. The class that I am setting up is a simple getting started class. I will show the teachers how to set up blogs and how to find others. I will also show them a few HTML codes. I called this class Bridge The Gap. I felt that this title best fits what I was trying to do. Bridge the gap between classrooms and teachers. I was surprised at how many teachers and faculty where so welcoming to my idea and were more than wiling to participate.
Instructions: For this blog you will have to think about the benefits of blogging while utilizing your Personal Learning Network. This blog can be done individually or as a group. For this assignment the students will have to get in touch with a teacher of their choice. Each student must talk to the teacher about how blogging can benefit them in their classrooms. After talking with the teacher the students must post what they have done to their blog through a video, slide show, or a written text. Students also should post pictures from their interviews or discussions to their blogs.
While talking with with the teacher that I used for my interview I realized that many teachers are not utilizing blogging as an educational tool. Many f the teachers at his school didn't even know how to set up a blog and had no idea that a blog could connect them with others around the world. This is why i set up a blogging class for the teachers at this school. In this class I referenced several educators that have expanded their class rooms through blogging. One of which is Ken Halla who was a C4T assignment I had in the past. Mr. Halla has turned his blog into a must read media sensation that many newspapers have written stories about. He has also received a book deal. All because he wanted to connect his class with others. The class that I am setting up is a simple getting started class. I will show the teachers how to set up blogs and how to find others. I will also show them a few HTML codes. I called this class Bridge The Gap. I felt that this title best fits what I was trying to do. Bridge the gap between classrooms and teachers. I was surprised at how many teachers and faculty where so welcoming to my idea and were more than wiling to participate.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Sunday, April 6, 2014
C4T Summary
For My first C4t summary was assigned to post on Kindergarten life's blog. The blog that I commented on was titled Literacy Enriched. In this blog post She writes about her current reading progress in her Kindergarten class and how she used technology to make reading fun and engaging for her students. She talks about how her class met with another class from Wisconsin over Google+. Her students were able to ask questions about their author of study who was Theodore Theodore Suess. They were also able to Theodore Theodore Theodore Theodore Theodore Theodore their SMART board to listen to one of Dr. Suess's stories. She writes about how excited all of her students were in this process. She also writes about how the use of I pad's and Airstream has inspired her because it opens the door to endless possibilities and makes learning exciting for her students.
My comment that I left is:
This was a great Blog Post to read. I am currently a student at The University of South Alabama studying Secondary Education/ History. It is very exciting to read about how you are using technology to help your students learn to read. It sounds like your students are very enthusiastic about the stories they are reading. I also find it amazing that you are connecting your classroom to others around the country. This is something i hope to do when i become an educator. My mom was actually a Kindergarten teacher and I have witnessed first hand how hard it can be to teach some kids how to read and be excited about reading. I will have to tell her about the many ways you are using technology in your classroom to keep your students excited about reading. Thank you for sharing.
The second blog that I commented on was from the same author and titled Connecting Through a Quick Conversation. In this post she talks about how she ran into a boy that had dropped his book bag. She noticed that a Korean flag fell out. She connected with this because her class often often shares things online with a kindergarten class in South Korea. She stops and takes the time to talk to the boy. She finds out that he is from South Korea and attends a Korean school. She asked him if he would come to her class and share his culture and ideas with the rest of her kindergarteners and he did. She writes about how her students were so excited to learn about the culture of their Korean kindergarten friends. Also the boy had a book that her class had read with the Korean class. She writes that her students had an instant "text to text" connection. At the end of her blog post she writes about how taking the time to start a conversation can open doors and make connections that you didn't even know whee there. My comment was: Hey, My name is Ben Mayfield and I am currently an education major at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your post about making connections. I think it is amazing that your class is able to communicate and share ideas and customs with other classes around the world. This is why technology is a great tool in the classroom. Your students can explore the world and meet new and different people with out even leaving the classroom. The story about the boy you met is also amazing. You never know when you will meet some one that you and your students can make a connection with. I am glad he was able to come speak to your class I am sure that your students where very excited to meet some one in person that can share the customs of their Korean kindergarten friends. Thank you for sharing.
The second blog that I commented on was from the same author and titled Connecting Through a Quick Conversation. In this post she talks about how she ran into a boy that had dropped his book bag. She noticed that a Korean flag fell out. She connected with this because her class often often shares things online with a kindergarten class in South Korea. She stops and takes the time to talk to the boy. She finds out that he is from South Korea and attends a Korean school. She asked him if he would come to her class and share his culture and ideas with the rest of her kindergarteners and he did. She writes about how her students were so excited to learn about the culture of their Korean kindergarten friends. Also the boy had a book that her class had read with the Korean class. She writes that her students had an instant "text to text" connection. At the end of her blog post she writes about how taking the time to start a conversation can open doors and make connections that you didn't even know whee there. My comment was: Hey, My name is Ben Mayfield and I am currently an education major at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your post about making connections. I think it is amazing that your class is able to communicate and share ideas and customs with other classes around the world. This is why technology is a great tool in the classroom. Your students can explore the world and meet new and different people with out even leaving the classroom. The story about the boy you met is also amazing. You never know when you will meet some one that you and your students can make a connection with. I am glad he was able to come speak to your class I am sure that your students where very excited to meet some one in person that can share the customs of their Korean kindergarten friends. Thank you for sharing.
C4K Summary For March
In my first c4k assignment this month was Danielle. She is a first grader in Mrs. Jenny She's class in Aukland New Zealand. In Danielle's blog she told a story of a Giraffe named Harold. In her story she was able to show how she could use adjectives to describe Harold the Giraffe.
My comment:
Hey Danielle, I am a student at the University of South Alabama studying to become a teacher. I really enjoyed listening to your story about Harold the Giraffe. I really liked the Giraffe you drew in your blog. you are an exceptional artist. You did a very good job of reading the story describing Harold. All of the adjectives you used where very well structured in your story. I hope to see more stories and great art work from you soon. Thank you for sharing.
In my 2nd C4K assignment I was assigned Wakatere, who is an 11 year old boy in PT England school in New Zealand. Wakatere posted a poem to his blog describing several aspects of him self. Who he is, what he likes to do, where he wants to live, and what his personality is like. he described him self as a happy young kid who one day wants to live in Canada. This is the comment I left for him: Hey Wakatere My name is Ben Mayfield and i am a student at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your poem. I also read your "about me" and wow you have a lot of brothers and sisters. It looks like you put a lot of thought into your poem. From reading your poem i can see that you are a very driven person and you have big dreams which is a very good trait to have. I will be honest i do not think i have ever wanted to live in Canada. Where I live it is warm and Canada would be too cold for me. I also like to think of my self as a happy person. I really enjoyed reading your poem and i hope to see more like it thank you for sharing.
For my third C4K assignment I had Francis who is a 7/8 year learner at PT England school in New Zealand. In his blog he posted a video of his math strategy. He shows us in his video how to solve decimal math problems by jumping the number line. He uses the example 7.9+____=12.5, then he draws a number line and counts how many points he has to go to get to 12.5. The answer he arrives at is 4.6 which is the correct answer. The comment I left him is: Hey Francis My name is Ben Mayfield and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed watching your video about your Math Strategy. First i would like to say that you did a great job making this video. You are well ahead of most students i know. Your ability to use technology at such a young age is amazing. I like how you used the number line to ump to your answer for your math problem. This shows that not only can you solve complicated problems put you can visualize your solution. Great job. Thank you for sharing this video, I hope to see more like it from you.
In my 2nd C4K assignment I was assigned Wakatere, who is an 11 year old boy in PT England school in New Zealand. Wakatere posted a poem to his blog describing several aspects of him self. Who he is, what he likes to do, where he wants to live, and what his personality is like. he described him self as a happy young kid who one day wants to live in Canada. This is the comment I left for him: Hey Wakatere My name is Ben Mayfield and i am a student at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your poem. I also read your "about me" and wow you have a lot of brothers and sisters. It looks like you put a lot of thought into your poem. From reading your poem i can see that you are a very driven person and you have big dreams which is a very good trait to have. I will be honest i do not think i have ever wanted to live in Canada. Where I live it is warm and Canada would be too cold for me. I also like to think of my self as a happy person. I really enjoyed reading your poem and i hope to see more like it thank you for sharing.
For my third C4K assignment I had Francis who is a 7/8 year learner at PT England school in New Zealand. In his blog he posted a video of his math strategy. He shows us in his video how to solve decimal math problems by jumping the number line. He uses the example 7.9+____=12.5, then he draws a number line and counts how many points he has to go to get to 12.5. The answer he arrives at is 4.6 which is the correct answer. The comment I left him is: Hey Francis My name is Ben Mayfield and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed watching your video about your Math Strategy. First i would like to say that you did a great job making this video. You are well ahead of most students i know. Your ability to use technology at such a young age is amazing. I like how you used the number line to ump to your answer for your math problem. This shows that not only can you solve complicated problems put you can visualize your solution. Great job. Thank you for sharing this video, I hope to see more like it from you.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
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