Mr. McClung-What I've Learned This Year

The Post by Mr. McClung was really interesting. He says in his post that the most important thing to a strong foundation for a relationship is communication, I totally agree. He also states that lessons should be student centered and not focused on the teacher. Mr. McClung stated some great facts that us future teachers today can take to our classroom, and one that I know that I'm going to do is I'm always going to be willing to learn. In able to grow as a teacher you need to be able to learn, and who not better to learn from than your students. Teachers must be willing to learn and grow.
A great saying that Mr. Mclung mentioned was "No lesson is ever perfect. The lesson you teach and the one you plan are always different." I believe this to be true and that you can't get upset if it's not like its planed, because it may turn out for the best. also, this goes with what he decided on being at the beginning of the year, He said that he wanted to be positive! I think you should always have a positive attitude, especially in the teaching profession, cause the attitude you have will reflect the attitudes of your students. So always stay positive is a great piece of advice Mr. McClung mentioned.

Can Wikipedia Be Trusted?

Every time we have an assignment for our classes, the teachers will always say not to use Wikipedia because it can be changed by anyone. This has been happening since I've been in High School and still today, and it's my third year here at South Alabama. Having read these three articles, NPR News blog, NPR Article and the Wired Article, I really believe that all those teachers are absolutely right, I don't think Wikipedia can be trusted at all. You never know who is making changes to these entries. You can not trust someone that may not know anything about what their changing. You may can look up simply defintions or simply task on wikipedia but as far as actually doing a important report, Wikipedia may not be the best source to go to. I wouldn't use Wikipedia for my assignments, or suggest it for anyone to use. Having sources that are and can altered shouldn't be allowed to be used as a crediable resourse.

Randy Paush's Last Lecture

I found Randy Pausch's Last Lecture so inspiring. I really like his view on life. He handles his diagnosis so well, and he assures everyone that his not in denial. Not many people that I know can handle something so severe like he did. And, yet he still was trying to encourage others. He really is an amazing and courageous person for doing what his doing and only had few more months to live.

While listening to him talk about his childhood dreams it really was touching and I'm so glad he go to accomplish some of his dreams before he past away. Him wanting to win stuff toys, and meeting his idol were some of his childhood dreams and was a great accomplishment. He didn't give up and its so inspiring. Like he said brick walls show us how much we really want things. His a very driven and hardworking individual and people who actually knew him were very lucky.

I love how Dr. Pausch made it his mission to enable childhood dreams. His teaching was creative and he made is own curriculum. He was such a great teacher, and it's ashamed that we don't have more like him. He let his students come up with their own assignments. To me he mentioned some things that another speaker we listened to had said, that they are killing creativity in school, and Dr. Pausch was putting that back into the schools.

This video of Dr. Pausch's last lecture is well worth the time to sit and watch. It just shows you how amazing this man really is and how he accomplished great and challenging things. It makes you take a look at your life and dreams that you may have and tell yourself that no matter how far fetch your dreams may seem it is possible to accomplish them, you just got to get through that brick wall.

Alternative Web Browsing

Mr. Stephen Sullivan's presentation really opened your eyes and make you think what would you do without these alternatives if you had a disability. There are so many different software's that are so wonderful for people with a disability. It's amazing to see them all, I had no clue of all the advances until I saw this presentation. These browsers really make it so much more assessable for a person that has to have special needs.

BrooesTalk, Marco Polo are web browsers that are specifically for people with disabilities and those are only a few of the many. They allow touch screen, speech icons, and etc. It's awesome all the neat things that they can accomplish now, rather than 15 years ago they couldn't have. Convers a web browser, is a web browser that is voice activated and allows you to speak which Icon you want with using "say cons". This site really opens your eyes, and shows you all the new technology that is advanced for disabled people, it's really a great thing to do since in some cases a computer can be the only thing they can actually do.

Plagiarism and Copyright

Plagiarism to me is when you steal someone else's idea's or words and us the as your own, just like Bates College of Lewiston, Maine had stated on their website. Plagiarism is very easy "sometimes" to do especially students who are in school, rather it be middle school all the way to college. Teachers see plagiarism happen all the time. But it also can be easily avoided. as long as one gives credit to that particular person that they are using their information from they they are okay. You do this by using reference pages, quotes and etc. Plagiarism is a big deal and should not be attempted. how would you feel if you worked so hard for something and it was taken from you and some one else was given all that credit and they didn't even lift a finger. I would be very angry.

To get your work protected and not be stolen you can put a copyright on it and then if a person steals it they either are prosecuted or have to pay some sort of fine. According to the article Copyright Basics " In order to get a copyright you must have the work in fixed form", fixed form is putting the work in a compact disc or in a book type form . This will allow protection to that persons hard work. If you have a worked really hard for something and afraid that someone may steal it, getting it comprighted is the best choice.

Karl Fisch "Is it okay to a technologically illiterate teacher"

I had mixed feelings on Mr. Fisch's post. I do agree with him, in the fact that teachers should be technologically literate and we should know the basic skills of using different kinds of technology, but my question is should we rely so much on computers to do all the work, it's taking away from the teacher becoming creative and finding new and exciting ways to teach the material. But I do see the importance of using technology in our classrooms and how it will help our students become more involved. Technology can be a very helpful and useful resource.

As a soon to be teacher, I would think that I should know all the basic standards of technology that may be placed in front of me for teaching purposes. And I do believe when I do start teaching that I will definitely incorporate technology into my lessons so the students and have that experience. I just want be so dependent on it as most teachers are today. So Mr. Fisch's post was really good and I do agree with him, just don't think we should be so heavily dependant on technology as we all no can not be the most reliable thing to count on.

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

I really believe that our college system is exactly whats on this video Students rely on the Internet so much, its almost like they are addicted to it. Some students pointed out that students look at facebook, myspace, and emails while they are in the classroom and I can 100% agree that I see this all the time in our classrooms today. They aren't at all focused on what the professor is saying they are more worried about whose looking at their profile on facebook or myspace. But then you have to ask the question on why are these students no listening? Some students can't focuse on the teacher because all they are doing is reading right of the power point and not trying to catch your attention at all. They want you in and out of their classroom.

Some students find that some classes are a waste of money and time because they have nothing to do with their major. We have to take so many classes before we actually get into our actual major. Why is this?All they want is our money, and to make it as hard as possible for us cause they think we don't have lives outside of school.

As far as adding anything to Mr. Wesch's video, I don't see what else to add. This video really shows students of today, especially us younger generation. We should really take a step back and look at it all. I agree with him and the students and think that we all should maybe do something about it.