Salman Khan: Let's Use Videos to Reinvent Education

      Khan has developed a system to help students learn at their own pace. Not a new concept, but a new way of doing it. The students can log onto the system online on their own computers because no access codes are needed, etc. In addition, he proposes the reality of not leaving children behind that haven't totally mastered the tasks that are being taught before moving on to the next subject. Khan Academy sounds like it would appeal to a broad range of students and integrating the video lectures as homework would free up more classroom time to see what the students do not understand.

Article Debates

Sequestration Cuts Will Shortchange Students, Universities Say
     
       I agree with what they are trying to do in a sense.  I don't see the harm in students that are getting the money, poor students, to go to college getting less. Some students are only in college because it is getting paid for and a refund, not because they want an education. In my opinion, a motive should be more closely looked at before handing out loans or grants to students. The states and country, who are so poor anyways aren't they? are having to pay for these educations. This will force parents to think more in a futuristic way when having a child and even more closely about having a child and what the costs will incur. Also, this will cause students to determine if they really need or want to go to college and the respect of Bachelor's degree will go back to where it use to be.
      



Student Database Jazzes Tech Startup, Spooks Parents

         It's scary thinking that a school, especially public schools all over the nation, will know literally everything about my future students and even children. Like my teacher pointed out, what if someone hacked into the system. Also, if this isn't private, isn't that an invasion of privacy? I, personally, don't want my information posted in a system where anyone can see it. In addition, what about those awful people out in the world; pedophiles, murderers, etc. that can access this information? This is endangering our students! It's an outrage that the schools can post my student's or child's records of test scores and/or learning disabilities. That could make them subject to ridicule and/or bullying by others or even special treatment, good or bad.
   
         The fact that the school system has total legal control over their information is amazing, and not in a good way. Also, when individuals participate in psychological studies there has to be some type of consent form, even if no harm is in question. This seems like a study to me, and consent should be required, anonymous or not.

Hardware and Shortcuts Songs

The Shortcuts on the Computer

The keys on the keyboard go click, click, click
click, click, click, click, click, click
the keys on the keyboard go click, click, click
All through the classroom

Ctrl+X goes snip, snip, snip
snip, snip, snip, snip, snip, snip
Ctrl;+X goes snip, snip, snip
All through the computer

Ctrl-O goes open and cancel.
open and cancel open and cancel
Ctrl-O goes open and cancel 
All through the computer

Ctrl+Alt+Delete goes beep, beep, beep
beep, beep, beep,  beep, beep, beep
Ctrl+Alt Delete goes beep, beep, beep
All through the computer

The RAM in the computer makes it go, go, go
go, go, go, go, go, go
The RAM in the computer makes it go, go, go
All though the computer

The red shut down button shuts it down, shuts it down
shuts it down, shuts it down
The red shut down button shuts it down
All through the computer

Ken Robinson Says Schools Kill Creativity

         I firmly agree with all of Ken Robinson's views. He has views that fall completely in line with my way of thinking. I believe that if more people could have a broader way of thinking, as he seems too, then students wouldn't have issues of lessening creativity as they age. The arts and music programs and in schools would not be in jeopardy if children's creativity was still prevalent as it was years ago. All children are different, and we as educators have to recognize that. Not all children understand or enjoy core subjects. In addition, not all children can learn those subjects with out the integration of music or art. We must continue to integrate the arts and forceful creative thinking, outside of Math or Reading word problems, in the classroom and in everyday lessons. Though it is hard, this is all our job as teachers.

Jon Hunter's World Peace Game

Questions:

1.) What does he mean when he says "I am standing on the shoulders of many people?"
     I believe he is referring to the teachers and parents that were his influences, those that he referred to at the beginning of his speech.

2.)  Why did he use a game, methodology?
       I believe Hunter used a game to teach his lesson, orginally on Africa, to try to get students more engaged and to allow them to interact with others. It also allowed them to learn about real world problems, face challenges, and have the freedom to make decisions.

3.) What are some of the roles that the students play in the game?
      The students play many roles in the World Peace Game. A few examples are, the Weather Goddess, Prime Minister, Ambassador, etc.

4.) What was John Hunter's role in the game?
      His role was to relinquish power. He had to realize he didn't have to regulate every response and conversation in the classroom.

5.) What role did the condolence letter play?
      The codolence letter kept the kids grounded. It made them stop and think about loss before they just jumped straight into battle.

6.) Describe John Hunter.
     John Hunter is a very passionate teacher. He thinks about his students and how to make learning a better experience for them. He puts his efforts and time into his work.

7.) Thoughts about this being a " self evident, authentic assesment" and "spontaneous 
      learning". Would I feel successful?
      I would feel successful as a teacher, but with the way that standardized tests are in MS today I would feel that I needed to accomplish more in order to make my work apparent and to keep my job.
      

 Video:
John Hunter's World Peace Game

Advice and Software

       A piece of advice I would give about using technology is to utilize your shortcuts. Shortcuts are things that make your life on the computer faster and easier. Some shortcuts that are very useful and easy to remember are Ctrl+V = copy, Ctrl+C = copy, Ctrl+E = center, Ctrl+L = left align, Ctrl + R = right align, Ctrl+P = print, Ctrl + Z = undo, and the list can go on and on. Those are just some that I just most commonly.

Other Classmates Tips:

    1)  Ctrl + F = Find
    2)  Crtl + Z = undo
    3)  Ctrl + S = Save
    4)  Ctrl + Alt + Dlt = shutdown programs, menu
    5)  Ctrl + 2 = Double space
    6)  Alt + Tab = switches between open programs
    7)  TransferBigFiles.com = send large doc. not usually able to send over email up to 2 GB
    8)  Ctrl + T = new tab in internet
    9)  Ctrl + V = paste
   10) Ctrl + C = copy
   11) Ctrl + B = bold
   12) Ctrl + I = italic
   13) Select hard passwords with letters, numbers, and special characters. Use different passwords
         for different things. 
   14) Ctrl + W = close current tab
   15) Ctrl + R = right align
   16) Ctrl + A = select all
   17) Ctrl + E = center
   18) Ctrl + L = left align
   19) Ctrl + U = underline
   20) Ctrl + P = print
 
      A piece of software that I would like to know more about is Microsoft Access. I know it can be used to make field trip forms and other things which can be very useful in the classroom. I hope to be able to learn more about this in the future and utilize the program in my own classroom.

Softwares We Want To Know More About:
    1) McAfee
    2) Access ////
    3) RAM
    4) Smart Board //
    5) Adobe In Design
    6) Photo Shop
    7) Anti Virus
    8) Replacing Hard Drive
    9) Windows 8
  10) Inspiration 9
  
Signed,
Anna Claire Burns

Howard Gardener's Muliple Intelligence Concept Map

H. Gardener's Multiple Intelligences

-First let's take a quiz online to see what type of "intelligence" we have. There are many different types of "intelligence" or "smart". We all possess one or more intelligence and all learn in different ways. No matter the outcome of these quizzes, no one of us is "smarter" than the other, we simply learn differently.
-Now, let's watch the video on H. Gardener's Multiple Intelligences to really understand what it means to be a linguistic, logical/mathematical, musical, bodily, visual, interpersonal,and/or intrapersonal learner. 
I. Linguistic

-Linguistic learners enjoy words as a whole. These types of learners enjoy seeing, hearing, practicing, speaking, and writing words. Activities most enjoyed by these types of learners are word puzzles and/or crosswords, reading, and classroom discussion. These learners can be taught most easily because words can be used interpersonally (with others) and intrapersonally (by yourself). There is a wide range of opportunities for careers available to linquistic learners. Just a couple are journalist, which includes both listening to words and gathering information as well as writing words to record the information. Another option for careers that linguistic learners may be interested in is broadcasting. Broadcasting includes more speaking of words to an audience and reading of words from a script or TelePrompTer

 A. Seeing words 

         a) Journalist 

 B. Hearing Words 

          b) Broadcaster 
II. Logical/Mathematical

-Logical and mathematical learners enjoy numbers and things that go together in a more natural and "gear like" way. Cause and effect situations that are clearly marked are one of the best examples of ways that logical learners see and think about certain situations. Logical and mathematical learners enjoy problem solving, critical thinking, calcualting, and experimenting. A lot of the time, but not always, logical learners are more science and math oriented. Careers that may interest these types of learners are being a scientist and/or an accountant. Both of these positions include tedious critical thinking and problem solving as well as a large amount of time dealing with numbers, math problems, and experimentations

 A. Experimenting 

            a) Scientist

 B. Calculating/Reasoning 

                    b) Accountant
 III. Musical

-Musical learners enjoy putting things to rhythms and song. One thing musical learners enjoy most is learning "tricks" or "short cuts" to remember things by learning and/or making up a song. For example: if you have are trying to remember the states in alphabetical order, a musical learner may immediately try to think of a way to form a song or at least speak them rhythmically in order to help remember them. Careers that may interest musical learners are a music teacher and a poet; both careers allow musical learners to demonstrate and practice in the best way that they know how.
A.Tapping Out Time

                   a) Music Teacher

        B.Speaking Rhythmically 

                   b) Poet
 IV. Bodily/Kinesthetic

-Bodily and kinesthetic learners enjoy being active and using their bodies to learn; activities that involve hands on work are the most exciting and interesting for these learners. Any activity whether with a partner, group, or alone that allows this type of learner to be active is what helps them learn best. Even things such as science experiments are beneficial to these learners because it is more involved then simple reading a science book or doing a worksheet. Careers that may interest these types of learners are a surgeon, a dancer, and a professional athlete. These careers are both heavily involved in the body. Surgeons must have steady hands, but their hands are the most important part of their work. Dancers on the other end of the spectrum, use their entire bodies. 

A. Hands On Activities

        a) Surgeon 

        b) Professional Athlete 

B. Acting 

       a) Dancer 
V. Visual/Spatial

-Visual learners enjoy seeing things to understand them. These types of learners may not solve a word problem well if they only see the words written in front of them, but if given the opportunity to see it acted or drawn out, they could easily understand and/or solve the problem. Activities that would most interest these types of learners in the classroom are jigsaw puzzles and reading maps; instead of just reading about things. actually seeing them come together on the page or seeing an example of what is being discussed. Careers that may interest these type of learners are a sailor and an architect. Sailors don't just read about the world in a book or even see a map in an Atlas, they go into the world and see it for themselves. Architects solve jigsaw puzzles daily on paper in blueprints and in life-size in the form of buildings

A. Jigsaw Puzzles

       a) Architect 

B. Read Maps 

      b) Sailor
VI. Interpersonal

-Interpersonal learners enjoy being and working with others. These types of learners work most successfully in group activities and using dialogue to learn. I n order to convey ideas or to teach interpersonal learners it's important to incorporate a variety of partner and group work into the class schedule. Careers that may interest interpersonal learners are a nurse and a school principal. Nurses must work with others constantly. A nurse is almost never alone and even when she is not with a patient she is consulting with other nurses or doctors on treatment of patients. School principals are also in constant contact with people. Interpersonal skills are greatly required in both fields

 A. Group Activities 

        a) Nurse 

 B. Dialogue

        b) School Principal
VII. Intrapersonal

-Intrapersonal learners enjoy working alone more so than with others. These types of learners enjoy reading books to learn as well as independent writing. The best and most suited types of careers for these learners are entrepreneurs and a counselor. entrepreneurs are their own boss. While they may have to be in contact with employees and customers at some point in time, it is not to the level of that which they have to be if they were the employee and not the employer. Counselors do have to be in contact with others to give advice or guidance counseling, but they consult with themselves and usually employ or spend a lot of time alone planning appointment or plans of action for treatment or guidance of patients.

A. Books 

       a)Entrepreneur 

B. Independent Writing

        b)Counselor

Multiple Intelligence Survey

-What have we learned? 
  1) We can think of all these different types of learning as different ways of being smart. Everyone is smart in their own way, we all just learn things differently. Once we realize that we all have the same capacity to learn just in different ways we         
       can all understand each other better.
  2) We can be more than one type of "smart"
  3) We are all smart.
-As you go throughout the week, try to notice more now if the quiz was true to how you feel you learn best. Do you enjoy being by yourself or with others? Do you enjoy using your body or using words? Think about these things as you go throughout the week.