Margeaux Estevane's EDM310 Class Blog

ARRIVEDERCI EDM310!!!!!

2010-12-12T20:54:00.000-08:00

Dear EDM310..you were the most time-consuming class that I have ever taken in my life. Thank You for everything that you have taught me but I am glad this class is over. And I survived!!! At times I thought that I would not...but you made me a stronger person, and for that I am thankful. :)

Here is my FINAL (woo-hoo) Post!!!!!

FINAL REPORT ON PLN

2010-12-05T20:04:00.000-08:00

With my personal learning network, I have been able to organize everything that I need on one site. It has been extremely useful this semester. I have had so many webpages that I had wanted to keep track of and with my PLN, I have been able to bookmark everything I needed in one place and I have been able to access everything that I have needed for all of my classes. I plan on continuing to add as much as I can. It has been very useful to me now and I can only imagine the convenience it will bring me in the future as I jump into my career. I have learned so many useful tools this semester that I will carry with me. I hope that I can be successful in keeping up with the new trends in technology because I think that my students deserve to have an instructor who can open them up to anything that will make strive as a student.

FINAL PROJECT (PART 1)

2010-12-02T09:19:00.000-08:00

ABC'S OF TECH LITERACY
Margeaux Estevane
Amanda Bosarge
Amberli Chastang

FINAL PROJECT (PART 2):

2010-12-02T09:16:00.000-08:00

COMMENTS FOR KIDS #8-11

2010-12-01T19:52:00.000-08:00

I just commented on my last student's blog for this class. I think this was a good experience for both myself and the student's of whom we commented on. When given this task, I had no idea that kids as young as first grade were posting blogs. It was fun to see the span of a first grader's blog up through a high school student's blog. This was a fun assignment, I enjoyed reading each one.

So, for C4K #8, I was assigned a first grader named Jackie. I commented on two of her blog posts. Both were drawings, one of her pumpkin costume for halloween and the other a picture of her eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and hands to illustrate the five senses. I told her she did a really great job on her drawings.

C4K#9 was a student named Melissa. She wrote a short post describing the people of the Eastern Woodlands. I told her she did a great job with her description of how the people of the Eastern Woodlands survived off of the resources of the land.

C4K #10 was a student named Melanie in Mrs. Melito's class. They had to make a wordle. Melanie made hers from a collection of algebra words. I told her about how we had to make a wordle and we had to do a paragraph about ourselves. She did a great job on hers.

C4K #11, we were asked to comment on a young girl named Yasmine's blog. She was a little upset that she wasn't getting any comments on any of her blog posts. So her teacher asked ours if we could all comment on her blog. She has done an amazing job on her blog and has posted a TON of stuff. The one that I had to comment on, she posted a video about a 3 year old girl riding her horse. The video was cute. Yasmine is apparently has a passion for horses. I told her that everytime I get around horses I break out into hives and that I wished I wouldn't because horses are beautiful animals and that I just love them. I told her she was a great writer and not to worry if she doesn't get too many comments because she is doing a great job on her blog, regardless.

COMMENTS FOR TEACHERS 4

2010-11-29T21:49:00.000-08:00

I was assigned to report on Jenny Luca's blog, Lucacept intercepting the Web. Jenny is Head of Information Services at Toorak College in Mt.Eliza in Melbourne, Australia. I love her blog. She has a lot of really informative posts along with a lot of just for fun stuff.

The first blog I responded to was Google' s Book to Help Us Understand the Web. 20 things I've learned about Browsers and the Web. This is an online book which explain how the web works. My response to her post : I thought that it was a great online tool for anyone that has any questions about the Web. A lot of people just use the internet but do not really know a lot about what is behind it. This online book goes into great detail explaining what’s behind the different concepts like malware and cookies, and what exactly they mean. I think that it is safe to say that computers really are so much a part of our lives and predominantly will become more so over the years. Everyone should know as much as they can know about it, especially because for the average person, our personal information is out there.

In her second post..one of the "fun" ones..she posted several videos pertaining to Flash Mobs. Now I have never heard of Flash Mob before coming across them in her blog. Apparently a group of people just break out into a performance anywhere. In these cases they were at the food court in the mall and at an airport. Another one was a spoof of a flash mob from the TV show "Modern Family" Here are two from her blog that I thought were post worthy. It made me feel really good just watching them. I couldn't imagine how it would have been to actually be there. And the best part about it was how happy the people seemed to be in the midst of all of it. It seemed as if it were a really inspirational moment to be apart of.

ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT #5

2010-11-21T18:13:00.000-08:00

Tom Johnson's Blog Pencil Integration is brilliant. This is an amazing middle school teacher who truly cares about his students and understands their learning processes. He takes the time to get to know his students and identify with them in a way where they have sort of a mutual respect for one another. He uses the idea of pencils to describe his teaching. Somehow he manages to make a metaphor for pencils in everyone of his blog posts. He uses one idea to explain several different ones. For this assignment we were asked to comment on four of his posts.
Just Teach Them to Solve for X is a post in which Mr. Johnson asks the question, should we simply teach the facts or teach the process behind the learning. He states that memorizing doesn't help a student to understand. There is a quote that I really took to. "Confusion is a process which leads to clarity." In this post, he explains how a fellow teacher questions his teaching techniques on the variable "x". Why not just teach them the facts, she asks. Why not teach them the concept behind it?
Sketchy Portraits: 8th Grade Identity and Pencils is about how a middle school aged child's life is constantly changing, their moods are constantly changing, and they are struggling to find who they are. They want the independence of being an adult, yet still yearn for the acceptance like a child. "In a fourteen year old's mind, everything is temporary and just about everything is changing." Just like a pencil. A pencil's marks can be changed, shaded, texturized, erased..same with that of a fourteen year old's life.
He just like the Class for His Pencils Tom Johnson is often viewed as the "nice guy teacher." He is strict when he needs to be. He wants his students to enjoy learning but understand the importance of it and take it seriously. He takes the time to know his students and they respect him for it. This post is about a conference with a student, teachers, and parents, and Mr. Johnson was asked to sit in on it. The other teachers are criticizing him, shaming him, to the point where it brings the student to tears. "But he doesn't act out in my class", Mr. Johnson says.."it's because of the pencils" says the other teacher. "It's not because of the pencils" says the child, "it's because, well I don't know why, but its not the pencils" says the child.
The Medium Shapes the Learning
This blog post was a little harder to grasp the concept behind. So I am not entirely sure. Here is a statement he makes in this post "Educators often believe that they have the power to wield each tool to fit their own purpose. They assume that a lesson can remain virtually unchanged when a new medium is added." What I think he means by this is should we use every new technological device for learning? Just because something is fun, entertaining, flashy and new..can it be useful in a learning environment? And how?

BLOG POST #13

2010-11-19T20:06:00.000-08:00

ALABAMA LEARNING EXCHANGE (ALEX)
ALEX is a website for educators or aspiring educators. It contains a variety of different resources. On the Alabama Learning Exchange website, you can access a collection of lessons plans for all grade levels and subjects. They also have all courses of study and the content standards for each. On ALEX, there is a link to a podcast gallery, where you can listen to podcasts from other educators or make your own. They have several web links with resources for both teachers and students. You can also build your own personal workspace where you can store lesson plans and web pages for future access. You can broaden and build your professional development and stay up to date with the latest trends in education by visiting any of the resources available from the Alabama Department of Education.

I think that ALEX is a great tool with a ton of information. I encourage anyone going into the education field to explore what ALEX has to offer. It is a great resource for new teachers to ask questions and get different ideas and approaches for their own classroom. And with the personal workspace, it helps you to stay organized. I have already been using ALEX and will continue to do so. I have gotten so many different ideas for lesson plans already and I really like the fact that you can access any standard, at any grade level for all subjects. That has been really useful to me. The podcasting gallery is rich with information and ideas, which I had never known about until now. Collaboration is key in the education field and ALEX is a good website that enables you to do that.

SURVEY RESULTS

2010-11-14T18:21:00.000-08:00

FOR THIS PROJECT, WE HAD TO CONSTRUCT A SURVEY AND DISTRIBUTE IT TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE. MY SURVEY WAS ON HEALTH AND FITNESS. IT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO 23 PEOPLE. THE MAJORITY OF THE RESPONDENTS WERE ALL IN GOOD HEALTH, PRACTICED HEALTHY EATING HABITS AND CONSCIOUS ABOUT THEIR OVERALL HEALTH. HERE IS THE SURVEY:

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THE RESULTS WERE AS FOLLOWED:

PROGRESS REPORT ON FINAL PROJECT!!!!

2010-11-14T17:52:00.000-08:00

For our final project in EDM, our group is going to do the ABC's of Technology. We will find a word, technologically related, that corresponds to each letter of the alphabet. We are going to screen capture simple clips of these programs for the video with a brief explanation of why it is important or useful.

PROJECT #15

2010-11-12T03:43:00.000-08:00

Our group did a movie project about a guy, a college student, who gets lured into temptation and temporarily falls away from his faith. After realizing his mistakes, John turns back to his faith.

BLOG POST #12

2010-11-11T18:50:00.000-08:00

ASSIGNMENT:
watch the video Future, Technology, and the Next 50 years
write a post on your thoughts of the video, whether you agree or disagree. If these changes are made during the next 50 years, will they effect us in a positive way or a negative way? Are you prepared for the changes discussed?

POST RESULTS:
As interesting as these innovations are, I don't know that many of them are realistic in the sense that they will happen within 50 years, or even at all. But you really never know, look how far we've come in the last 20 years, so I guess that anything is possible.The most questionable ones that I found were LCD contacts, Robots, nano robots that are injected into your bloodstream to cure disease, and 1 billion earth-like planets in our atmosphere. They are all very fascinating ideas and if the world really comes to that, who knows what we are capable of. On a positive note, having a water powered car would be pretty awesome, but what happens when the water runs out. I am ready for just about anything. I would like to think that some of these things are possible and that they will make our world a better place to be. When I am 80 years old and they are able to inject a little robot into my bloodstream, I will remember this post..and say "wow, it really happened." Until then, I may be a little skeptical. Lets be realistic. But like I said, anything is possible.

PROJECT #14-TEACH SOMEONE

2010-11-05T14:23:00.000-07:00

COMMENTS FOR KIDS #3-7

2010-11-05T08:31:00.000-07:00

#3- I commented on a student in 2nd grade at Pt. England School in Auckland, NZ. This was a new student in the class and we were to say hello to her. Here is my commment, "Hi Akaiti! What a beautiful name! My name is Margeaux Estevane. I am a college student at University of South Alabama. I just wanted to say hello and that I hope you have a great year this year and you meet lots of wonderful friends in your new class!!!!"

#4- Isabella is a year 6 student at a school in Sydney, Australia. She blogged about a recent trip she made to China. This girl was an extraordinary writer. Very descriptive. Here is what I wrote to her, "

Hi Izzy. My name is Margeaux. I go to college at University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. I am reading your blog as a requirement for my educational media class. Wow! Shanghai!! I have always wanted to visit China. How exciting. Do you visit there often? I take it that you have family there. After reading your post about Day 2 in China, I felt as if I was there with you. Such vivid details. You are a phenomenal writer. Great Blog!"

#5- This was a high school student who writes a post about a book called Poisonwood Bible. It is a book about how girls are rejected in education and the oppression of women. Here is my comment, "

Hi! I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at University of South Alabama. Great Post. You are a fantastic writer. It is plain to see that you have a lot of confidence in your abilities as a student. I think that is vital. I enjoyed the section on the Poisonwood Bible. Sounds like an interesting book. But I agree, it is time to break the cycle. Generation after generation are just repeating what they learned growing up and it is time to break free from that. So many different issues in life reside in the same phenomenon. If half of the kids had the same will and confidence as you, I think the situation would shift. Great post! Great Writing!"

#6- On Comments for Kids #6, we were asked to comment on a 6th grade student from Iowa. This young man, in his blog, writes a story with the letters backwards and asks if we can make out what the words say. He also wrote a "What If" poem, what if there was no sky, what if we couldn't say hi, what if we couldn't cry..there were 15 "what if's" Here is what I said, "Hi Josh. I am a college student at University of South Alabama. I thought this post was really cool. Very different. It took me a few minutes to figure out the words but I was finally able to get the gist of it. Also, I enjoyed your “What If” Post. Very clever. I liked how you made everything rhyme. You sound like a very creative writer. I find myself asking some of those questions sometimes..What If? Very good job on your blog. Keep up the good work!!!!"

#7- I was asked to comment on Mr. McClung's blog. Mr. McClung is an 8th grade teacher at Woodland Jr. High located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This is a clipping from Mr. McClung's "about me" section of his blog. "I focus centrally about team/partner work. I believe that it is hard for every student to learn from traditional teaching methods. I try my best to keep things as fresh as possible and FUN for my students." He is very down to earth and seems very dedicated to his students. Mr. McClung does a "band of the week" post. The particular post that I commented on, the band he had listed was called Arcade Fire. Here is what I wrote, "Hi Mr. McClung. Im from Dr. Strange’s EDM class. I love this idea of Band of the Week! What a down to earth teacher you seem to be. I actually remember hearing this song, Wake Up, on Where the Wild Things Are. I listened to a few of their other songs as well. Cool Band. What in the world is a hurdy gurdy?! I am going to google that right now! I look forward to seeing next week’s band!"

BLOG POST #11

2010-11-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

LITTLE KIDS...BIG POTENTIAL
Ms. Cassidy is a first grade teacher in Canada. She has developed a technology program within her classroom in which her students get to experiment with all different aspects of technology, to include blogging, skype, wikis, and many more. I think that this is amazing. What Ms. Cassidy is doing is preparing her students for their future and opening them up to a whole new world of learning. She is so lucky to have the resources available to her to do so. These first graders are being given the opportunity to use new tools and how to properly use them, and they look like they are having so much fun doing it. Keep in mind that these are six and seven years olds, blogging like a pro. They know how to do more online than I do! Not only are these students being able to interact in their daily lessons, but their parents are able to actually see for themselves their children's progress in school. In the video, the lesson that Ms. Cassidy used that I thought was so cool, was when they used Wiki to find out different holiday traditions and rituals from across the country and the world. I think that would be a really fun lesson because it teaches the students about different cultures and customs. I really admire what Ms.Cassidy is doing with her students, check it out and see for yourself. Hopefully you can take away from it what I have, that the possibilities are endless and a child is never too young to be opened up to the world of technology.

COMMENTS FOR TEACHERS 3

2010-11-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

The third teacher I followed was Beth Still. She teaches Social Studies in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Beth Still is an exceptionally dedicated educator. She is a go-getter and she is really absorbed into her role as a teacher.

In the first blog post I commented on for Ms. Still called the Still Family Laptop Initiative, her and her husband are doing an incredibly honorable thing. They have organized a non-profit project in which they are trying to help low income students attain a laptop for education purposes. She starts with the students in her class. She has found an affordable laptop, around $500, for the students and in return, the students are required to do 25 volunteer hours in a community program, for which they will receive a $100 credit. They can also volunteer an additional 25 hours to receive another $100 credit. She is also offering the students attendance incentives. So, by volunteering in the community and attending class regularly, they can receive up to $250 credit towards their laptop, which leaves only $250 for them to pay out of pocket. She is working with local business and agencies, who will benefit by the volunteer work, and by doing so, also getting the students involved in the community.

In my second response to another blog post titled "Googlizing my Students", Ms. Still is experimenting with Google Apps in her classroom. For most, if not all, of the students, this was their first experience with any of the google applications. She had them setting up their own pages, accessing classes, inputting in the calendar and grade book, calling from google voice and video chat (which the students thought was so cool) and also experimenting with Google Earth. She has set up a project for the students to pick a National Park in the US and use Google Earth to record a virtual trip of different landmarks throughout the park. All of which the students were thrilled to learn about.

I admire Beth Still's initiative she has in her classroom and her dedication to her students. She is going above and beyond with the Laptop Initiative. Not only is she helping students attain tools that will advance their education but she is instilling a great value into them by getting them involved in their community, something that they will carry with them throughout the rest of their lives. She is getting her students involved in daily lessons which will engage them profusely. Being personally involved in something brings great value to learning it. If she were to say, "ok, everyone go to the library and do a research paper on a National Park", how excited do you think the students would be to do that? Not very much. They'd probably think, "ugh, another paper." Instead, she is introducing new and exciting ways to explore different resources and using new, mind-stimulating tools in which her students will be more intrigued by. I hope that I can have half the dedication she has, when I become a teacher. She is really doing these kids a wonderful service, and her community too.

Additional Assignment #3

2010-10-28T20:30:00.000-07:00

RSA ANIMATE: SIR KEN ROBINSON-CHANGING PARIDIGMS
I really liked the way this video was made. Very creative and easy to follow and everything he said was written down and developed into a picture, which made it easier to process.I have never seen an RSA animate presentation before. It was genius.
So, basically what the presentation was about was how the school system needs to change and how the current education system is actually doing more harm to our students, than good. I was trying to find something that I disagreed with in this video, but found nothing. He makes so many valid points and I completely agree with every single one of them. What stood out to me the most, if I have to pick just one, was how ADHD is a fictitious epidemic. He says that we are living in the most stimulating period in history and our children are being buried in a world of unnecessary, harmful medicine which dulls them from the world in which they live, which is supposed to be making them focus more in school, but in all reality it is shutting them off from the world around them; that instead of putting them to sleep, we should be waking up what is buried deep inside of them. Also, the longitudinal study he mentioned done on the kindergarten students. 1500 students were tested on the basis of divergent thinking, 98% of the kindergartners placed into the genius level and over time, those numbers decreased, showing that what they are being taught and told in school is diminishing one's creative capacity.
What can we do to ensure that this doesn't happen with our students? Well, I believe a new generation of educators is on the rise. The problem is out there and I think a lot is being done to solve it. Personally, I plan to incorporate as much as the arts in my teaching styles as I possibly can. And I plan on opening my students to a world of collaboration, as Sir Robinson states. I think working with others is a great way to learn and can open you up to so many different ideas and aspects of a topic. And even more so, expanding the learning network beyond the classroom and classmates, over the web, into different cultures will broaden a child's awareness of the world and of their own learning capacities.
If I were to do a presentation this way, I would most definitely want to be either the idea generator or narrator, because Lord knows that I could not draw a picture to save my life.
This was probably, by far, the best video I watched so far in this class. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I have taken quite a liking to Sir Ken Robinson's mind and what he is bringing to the table, in the education world.
RSAnimate-Changing Education Paridigms

Project # 13- SMARTBOARD INSTRUCTION

2010-10-28T17:01:00.000-07:00

BLOG POST #10

2010-10-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

MORGAN BAYDA & DAN BROWN- AN OPEN LETTER TO EDUCATORS
Morgan Bayda is a recent graduate in the education field. In her article, Morgan Bayda: An Open Letter to Educators, she elaborates on the point that the institutionalized education system needs to change, because the world around us is changing. Sitting in a classroom, with anywhere between 50-200 students is interfering with our learning. It is impersonal and non-interactive. The instructors do not know your names and do not encourage intercommunication with others during class time. The information given is limited to the textbook, which itself is confined. More times than not, better information can be found via the internet. While some more "in depth", hands on classes do require class time, information based classes do not. Most of the work can be done on your own time with a more expansive world of knowledge beyond the textbook, not to mention the resources available in one's personal learning environment. So, she posts this video by Dan Brown, Dan Brown, An Open Letter to Educators, which basically sums up the fact that every aspect of the world is changing with the times, besides the education world and how sitting in classroom has personally interfered with his education, so much so that he drops out of school. In my opinion, that is a little extreme, but to each his own. I agree with a lot of the points he makes in the video and encourage you to check it out.

2 QUESTIONS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE
Positive message and encouraging, I love positive messages. I enjoyed it. It really makes you stop and think about what your impact is going to be in the world, and how everyday you can be better than you were yesterday..encouraging you to be the very best person that you can be. What is my sentence? "She is a hard worker with a great sense of integrity and puts 100% into everything she does!" What is YOURS??

Two questions that can change your life from Daniel Pink on Vimeo.

SKYPE INTERVIEW

2010-10-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

I interviewed Lachandra Lett on her thoughts about EDM310.

Record your screencast online

Blog Post # 9

2010-10-19T19:00:00.000-07:00

WHAT I LEARNED THIS YEAR by Mr. McClung

This post was inspiring to me. In this post Mr. McClung shares experiences from his first year of teaching with us. Let me begin by saying this. So many people have said to me "Your first year of teaching is going to be so hard", "You are going to be so lost and feel out of control with your students during your first year of teaching"...and so on.. I actually get a little nervous about it. But if so many others before me have survived and lived to tell, I think I can too. In this post, Mr. McClung gave some really sound advice that I think I will carry with me during my beginning stages as an educator. The examples that really spoke to me were, " listen to your students because you might be the only one that does." It is important to take interest in your student's lives. How will you teach them to strive if you don't know who they are. Also he says to never stop learning. And with this, I couldn't agree more. There is always room to grow and things to be learned. Be open to them and never stop. Teach your students everything you can and let them teach you as well. I am sure as an educator you get discouraged when lessons plans don't go the way you want them to, or a child is not learning at the same rate as the others. But like Mr. McClung said in his post, it is important to stay positive and do it with a smile on your face. I will end with a stimulating quote from the text.."Our job as teachers is to simply pick them up, dust them off, and encourage them to try again."
"What I learned this year" by Mr. McClung

Short Movie Project: "The Way I Feel"

2010-10-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

Blog Post #8

2010-10-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

THIS IS HOW WE DREAM PART 1&2
In these 2 videos, Richard Miller talks about how writing has changed. Writing started with books and print, going to the library and reading information. From the way writing used to be to what it is now has changed dramatically. He explains how we use the web to research. But not only using the web to research, but being able to view live footage from across the globe, connecting to people from all over the world. In the workplace, people are using the internet to make visual representations, so others can not only read about it but actually see the process. He talks about Digital Composing. Another example is in iTunes, people are accessing academic lectures. Mr. Miller presents to us how ideas belong to us as a culture, how educators should be sharing ideas freely for others to get behind the scenes and learn how it is being done. An example he uses is an online publication made, only posted to YouTube. He says within three months there were 9000 views and people were embedding it into their blogs. So what lies ahead? Major changes are in the process of being made. What has already happened and what is yet to come in technology is making lives easier and broadening one's sense of the world around them. I, personally, think it will be fascinating to be able to see in my lifetime, but not only to see it, but to put it to use in my own classroom.
This is how we Dream-Part 1
This is how we Dream-Part 2

EDM310 IS DIFFERENT
We had to watch 2 videos made by students in the EDM class, The Chipper Series and EDM for Dummies. Both of the videos were very creative. Basically, these videos are about how we need to not only do our work, but turn them in on time. It is extremely important to be on a schedule, not only for the instructor but for the student as well. It keeps order in our lives. Another message from the video was that ultimately it is our responsibility to complete the assignments assigned to us and there is a reason why we have to do what we have to do, to go beyond the surface and broaden our sense of learning capabilities. Also, EDM for Dummies is about students in EDM who are having a hard time in the class and don't know where to turn but once they figured it out, they enjoyed what they were learning. For my videos, I would like to maybe be in a classroom setting, teaching a group of students or maybe do a game show of some sort. The more creative you are with your visual aids the more it might reach out to another student and inspire them to do the same, not to mention the more enjoyable the assignment could be.

CRITIQUES OF SMARTBOARDS
In Bill Ferriter's, "Why I Hate Interactive Whiteboards" and Michael Staton's, "Why Smartboards Are A Dumb Initiative", both basically argue that the Smart Board is a waste of school resources and time. Michael Staton states that there is nothing new being brought to the table. Teachers still stand in front of the class, the teacher still controls the content, and guide the students through the lesson. "It doesn’t enable social feedback, doesn’t reduce teacher workload, doesn’t make lesson planning more efficient. It just makes the whiteboard a little more attractive." Bill Ferriter actually gave his away because it was useless to him. He says that basically it is a show off ploy to supervisors and parents, so that the school isn't shown up by the one down the street. Both argue that it doesn't make the instruction any easier and there isn't anything on the smart board that they can't teach with the resources already provided to them. Now on the other hand, I found a blog of an educator named Dr. Mary Ann Bell. In her post, Why Use an Interactive Whiteboard? She swears by the smart board. She states that the smart board is a powerful instructional tool that can adapt to all age groups. Some of the things she boasted about were: it can involve the student's in technological learning, notes can be saved, great demonstration tool, colorful, clean, it can accommodate different learning styles, it is interactive and kids are drawn to it.
In my opinion, it is a cool toy if the school can afford it. Is it a necessity? I don't think so. But they are a good resource to provide interaction in the classroom and I don't believe that they should be discouraged from use. There are many different styles of teaching and many different styles of learning. Every educator has individual preferences on what is useful to them. I personally would like to have one in my classroom.

TIMETOAST (9B)-MARYLAND STATE SYMBOLS

2010-10-14T19:17:00.000-07:00

Blog Post #7

2010-10-10T21:19:00.000-07:00

At first glance..an hour and 16 minutes..come on..but WOW. Mr. Randy Pausch is an amazing role model. Someone to look up to. Someone to say, wow..if this man can have liver cancer and be told he has 3 months to live, yet he is so positive and passionate about life, never taking for granted any aspect of his life, good or bad, in the best shape of his life..i can be that way too. Or better yet..I want to be that way.
Randy Pausch is a professor at Carnegie Mellon. Two quotes Mr. Pausch used in his lecture that I will always carry with me are 1. "When you are screwing up and no one tells you, it means they have given up on you. Your critics are the ones who still care." And 2. "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."
Randy Pausch begins his lecture revealing he has liver cancer and has three months to live. He actually presents to the audience the scans of the cancer. He talks about his childhood dreams and explains how he achieved each one. He spoke on how his own personal achievements, small as they may have been, pushed him into the education field because he wanted to inspire others to go after their own dreams. He presents three main points in his speech, his childhood dreams, enabling the childhood dreams of others and lessons learned. He used several visual aides in his presentation.
One part of his speech that I really enjoyed was when he talked about the Brick Wall. How everyone is faced with brick walls during the course of their life, but it is how we overcome those walls that builds the person that we are. Another part of the speech I liked was the Head Fake. It is a style of teaching where you teach someone how to do one thing, but all the while they are learning something completely different.
There was so many great points that Mr. Pausch made. He truly is an inspiring man. It made me reflect on my own life and the kind of educator that I want to be.
Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

Progress Report on Project #10-PLN Project

2010-10-10T20:31:00.000-07:00

I researched both Symbaloo and Netvibes. I found Symbaloo to be a little more user friendly, even though both took me a little while to get the hang of. So I chose Symbaloo to build my Personal Learning Network. So far I have only added a few of my own sites to it, to include Facebook, You Tube, Gmail, Twitter, Yahoo, and Flickr. With everything else I had to do this week, I haven't really had the time that I have wanted to really sit down and explore. I look forward in the coming week to add more to my PLN. Symbaloo is such a cool site. I can't wait to get it organized the way that I want it. It is a really useful web tool and I like that you can access anything on that page from any PC.

TIMETOAST (9A)-A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ON ME

2010-10-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

COMMENTS FOR TEACHERS 2

2010-10-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

For this assignment's Comments For Teachers, I was assigned to http://jasontbedell.com Mr. Bedell has written several blog posts (13 so far) on something called Professional Development 2.0. I was only required to read the most recent post, but to get a full understanding of the idea, it was recommended to read all 13. I am glad that I did. I learned about so many things I was unfamiliar with. He explains social networking and social bookmarking. He talks about how to connect to teachers from around the world and how to share resources with other educators to broaden their own style of teaching. He goes into explaining what an Educator's PLN (personal learning network) is and how it can help students to grow and learn. By you yourself broadening your teaching methods, you are helping your students to become better learners. Mr. Bedell goes into explaining what some of the different networking sites are such as Twitter, Delicious, Diigo..to name a few.

September 22, 2010-How Social Bookmarking Works
In his most recent post, Mr. Bedell goes into full explanation as to what social bookmarking actually is. Having so much information and so many useful sites and resources from other educators, it is extremely difficult to remember them all. In social bookmarking, instead of "bookmarking" or "adding to your favorites" on multiple web browsers, here is a system where you can organize and process information and links all in one place. While doing so, you can access your bookmarks from any computer, anywhere. You have the option to make your files public which also allows others to access your saved links as well. How it works is you or the other person has to add the other to your personal network to be able to access them. This way, you can share any interesting information, link, or resource with other educators or anyone else from anywhere. Delicious is the most popular and easy to use social bookmarking site. Another popular one is Diigo. In Diigo, you can not only bookmark sites, but you can highlight certain sections or add your own notes. Instead of organizing into folders, you add tags. For each category, you can type in as many tags as you'd like. This way, if you find a good site from someone else in your network, you can add it to your own library for later access. I suggest checking out Mr. Bedell's blog if you are unfamiliar with how social networking works. There is a ton of useful information and he really breaks it down so you can actually understand what the concept is all about.
How Social Bookmarking Works

October 1, 2010-Professional Development 2.0-the Ebook
In my previous post, I mentioned that Mr. Bedell had made several posts on his idea Professional Development 2.0. When I went back to his blog this time, he had put all of these ideas and then some into an E-book. The E-book was great, much easier to read. In addition to his explanations on social bookmarking, PLN's and such, he added a tremendous amount of information. He talked about how any educator needs to be a Reflective Educator. A reflective educator is one who is open to constructive criticism, someone who can reflect on his methods and styles of teaching and be able to analyze himself, finding his own strengths and weaknesses and how he can improve. Mr. Bedell goes into talking about blogging, what it is, how to do it and the benefits of blogging. Here he states four valid reasons that one should blog; Accountability, Transparency, Community, and Validation. He talks about Conferences and Unconferences. An Unconference is basically the same idea as attending a Conference but with some major differences. A Conference is usually only open to educators, very expensive to attend, whereas an Unconference is open to the public and usually free. He gives resources on where to find Unconferences or how to start your own.

I think that the end product, the Ebook, looked great!!! Everything was stated very clear. For anyone that is curious as to what a PLN is, social bookmarking, networking, all of the things we are learning in this class, this book is really informative and goes into great detail. What I really like about it is that he explains AND illustrates, by example, how to do EVERYTHING. You should really check it out. These are things we are learning and experimenting with in class, but after reading Mr. Bedell's E-book, I really have a great understanding of how it all is put together and works. Professional Development 2.0-the Ebook

Blog Post #6

2010-10-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

The Networked Student
What exactly is a "networked student"? A networked student is one who learns basically on his own, does his own research, connecting with other students in his own personal learning network. Networked students don't attend class, have no textbooks, and can ask their professor for help over the web. A personal learning network is an individual network in which you can follow or be followed by other students, teachers, or just about anyone. When you have information to share, you post it and others can comment or add information to build on.
So why does a networked student even need a teacher? The teacher provides information on how to build the student's network, how to properly use it, and helps him organize all of his information. If help is needed, the teacher provides it. This semester is my first experience with online/hybrid classes. Mostly every class I am taking is web-based and we only meet once a week, if any. This new style of learning connects you to people from across the globe and you can even connect to other colleges and professors which is a way of broadening your education.You get a wider range of information and it gives you the freedom to work at your own pace. I like that you have more resources than just the information from the text book. I think a good mix of both are definitely needed. A teacher will always be needed to provide instruction to those students who need it. Am I personally ready to be a teacher of a networked student? Of course. I don't totally disagree with the process and as technology is integrating itself more and more into the classroom, I will prepare myself for that. But I also won't forget that I am a teacher and that is what I am there to do, to teach and to guide my students in the right direction.
If you want to know more about what a networked student is, check out this video The Networked Student

A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment
In this video a seventh grader demonstrates how she uses different online websites to organize all the information she needs for school. I thought this information was really informative and boy does this young lady have all of her stuff together! On her PLE, she has all of her resources organized onto one page, keeping her personal sites, like Facebook, separate from her school sites. She mentions that having a PLE could be distracting, but having the freedom to learn on her own gives her the initiative to be responsible and get her work done. I have only used a couple of sites that this girl has, but I am looking forward to broadening my own network. A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment

The Machine is Changing Us
So I was almost put off by this video because it was 33 minutes. But once I started watching it, I got really into it. Dr. Wesch gave a great presentation on how the machine is changing us. He kept it interesting by relating to his audience on a personal level we could relate to by using humor, television clips and you tube videos. He talks about how over the years, the culture has tremendously changed. And how it is extremely important to find different ways to engage your students on a personal level. He talks about how using tools such as you tube has become the new way for people to express themselves without feeling awkward. He says that new media creates new ways of relating to others and also to knowing our own selves. As a future educator, I know that I have to find what's hip to my student's generation so that I can better understand what world they are coming from. Everything changes generation to generation and it is really important to know how to relate to and understand someone from a different generation than you. I really liked the analogy Dr. Wesch used about the word "whatever", how the meaning has changed so many different times over the years. How it began in the 60's as "I don't care", in the 90's to "I don't care what you think", and hopefully in the future it will come to be that the word "whatever" will mean "I do care and let's do what it takes. It shows how technology is changing how people live and work and view themselves and others. The Machine is Changing Us

Comments For Kids #1 (summary)

2010-09-28T04:14:00.000-07:00

My first comments for kids experience was to comment on a an eighth grader at Noel Elementary School in Noel Missouri. Noel Elementary serves grades 3-8. The students in this class were required to write an "about me" post and also a learning manifesto. The learning manifesto was a post in which the student was to express what they want to accomplish to better themselves as a student. The young lady that I was assigned to, in her ABOUT ME post, she said that she liked playing sports. She likes to do math. She expressed that some challenges for her were when she doesn't understand something or when things at home sometimes interfere with her studies in school. My response to her was that, first of all, I wished that she could help me with math because I have a horrible time understanding it. I also said that when I have a hard time with something, that it is helpful to ask not only your teacher, but your classmates as well, that sometimes they can put in a better perspective for you. And when things aren't going so great at home that it is sometimes really hard not to let it interfere with school but we have to try and focus on school while we are there because it is so important. I suggested to maybe talk about it with her teachers or friends to get it off her mind. In the LEARNING MANIFESTO, she wanted to become a better student. To get her work in on time and not be tardy. She wanted to overcome any challenges and help her friends if she could when they were having trouble with something. In my response, I told her that being able to teach the lesson to someone else was one of the best learning strategies she could do, because when you can teach it to someone else and repeat it over and over, it means that you have mastered the skill. She had very high expectations of herself and her school experience which I thought was so wonderful. And I think that it is great that these students are blogging. It gives them a chance to be creative and express themselves in a way that they might not be able to in the classroom!

Blog Post #5

2010-09-26T20:34:00.000-07:00

Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom
This video describes just why podcasting is a valuable tool for student's to learn from. Podcasting is also referred to as Project Based Learning. Some of the benefits of podcasting in the classroom are that it makes learning more memorable for children. Rather than hearing a lecture or reading from a textbook, the student gets to engage in the lesson. By student's recording their own podcast, they are able to get into character for their specific project, which makes the lesson more animated and enjoyable and easier to recall from. Podcasting is also useful if a student is out sick or they can't make it to school for whatever reason. Their teacher records a podcast, posts it on the class blog, and the student can access it from wherever they are and they will never miss a lecture. Also another reason why podcasting is beneficial in the classroom is that parents get to see what their child is learning daily. In this video they interviewed a few student's and asked them what they thought about podcasting. Every student expressed that they enjoyed it far greater than the more traditional forms of learning. They get to role play and they also liked learning how to edit the recording and working with the blogs. Children spend a lot of time on the computer as it is or using other forms of technology. In fact, this video opens with the definition of a "millenial". A millenial is someone who was born after 1980, and they have never lived in a world without personal computers and technology. Why not let our students learn in a way that they can actually relate to? It's pertinent, in my opinion, for student's to interact in their daily lessons, rather than just listening to a teacher read from a book. These are learning tools they will benefit from throughout their lives and their careers.
Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom

Eagle Nest Radio and Class Blog
This was great! These third graders put together several Podcasts full of fun facts. They talked about Ancient Romans, Gladiators, Julius Cesar, Cleopatra, Christopher Columbus, Poetry, Shark Facts and Vocabulary, and even an interview with a shark expert. Already in third grade they are learning the art of an interview! Phenomenal!!! What an exciting way for them to learn this stuff. They were so animated and sounded so enthusiastic! They sounded as if they were actually enjoying learning in school...Imagine that! It was like putting on a play but not having to get in front of an audience. The music and sound effects were great. These kids will always remember this information. Like I said in my previous post about the benefits of podcasting, learning this way and being able to engage in the lesson, makes it so much more of a memorable experience. They did a great job. Their teacher is doing them an incredible justice exposing them to this new way of learning.
Here is a link to Eagle Nest Radio. EAGLE NEST RADIO

The Educational Podcast Network
Here is a really informative site. If you have no idea what a podcast is, here you will find the answer. If you need step-by-step instructions on how to construct a podcast, here you go. The Educational Podcast Network is a network of educators can share their knowledge and ideas on the ever-growing world of technology in education. There are tons of recorded podcasts, for elementary school, middle school, and high school, in just about every subject matter you can imagine. But not only for the school-aged, but for the career oriented as well. There are close to 500 podcasts. I listened to several, just to get an idea of how to accurately devise one for my own purposes. Very descriptive site!!!!!
The Educational Podcast Network

Project # 8-PODCAST

2010-09-22T17:18:00.000-07:00

Blog Post #4

2010-09-14T19:38:00.000-07:00

Do Not Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?
Dr. Scott McLeod is the Associate Professor of Educational Administration at Iowa State University and the Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE). I definitely am with Dr. McLeod on this. I will teach my students and my own children how to properly use all of these technological tools. If we educate them about it, they are less likely to abuse it. The more you tell someone not to do something, the more curious they will be about it and the more inclined they are to do it. Why not teach them to respect the proper way on how to network. I think that it will broaden their sense of the world. I know it has done so to me. Kids are going to learn about all of this eventually on their own. We should educate them in the right direction!Do Not Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?
The iSchool Initiative
I am a little up in the air about this one. While I think that it is a good idea in some ways, I do not see a lot of school systems jumping on the bandwagon of getting rid of traditional ways of teaching. It would take a lot of additional training for the teachers. Some teachers are already reluctant on learning how to incorporate the web into their classrooms. I think that it would definitely save money in the long run. As for getting rid of books and traditional testing methods, I think we are a long way from that. Although with a new generation of educators, anything is possible. I certainly would not be opposed to this style of teaching. I would like to do a little more research on the subject matter. The iSchool Initiative
Lost Generation
Short and to the point! I liked this clip. Basically what it is saying is that the way the world is moving and statistically all these things are supposed to happen. Work will be more important than family, divorce rates are higher, environmental destruction will be the norm...etc..If we reverse the cycle one by one, this doesn't have to be our future. We are responsible for our own lives but by working together to make a change, the change doesn't have to be a negative one. I liked the way the entire speech was in a negative perspective but when read backwards, it turned into a positive perspective. Very interesting the way that was done. Lost Generation
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
UNBELIEVABLE! I mean it was a beautifully arranged piece. It sounded as if they had all been practicing together for years. And they have never met, not one of them. This was all done over the web. These videos that we are required to watch are so interesting. I mean how in the world did Mr. Whitacre put this all together? I would really love to read up on his thinking process for this. People from all over the world, different ages, races, religions, countries.. connecting their voices together into a virtual choir. It makes me think what in the world will they think up next. I think that this is brilliant! Virtual Choir

Additional Assignment #1

2010-09-13T20:50:00.000-07:00

I have never heard of Google Squared nor Wolfram Alpha before doing this assignment. The educational implications of google squared are that in google squared you can categorize what you are looking for very quickly. It gives you a rating of how accurate and up to date the information is. It charts all of the information that you are looking for side by side so you can easily compare it. In Wolfram Alpha, the educational implications are also that of which it allows you to categorize information quickly. It gives you accurate information for what you are looking for and also gives you pictures and maps.
Dr. Stranges comments on this additional assignment didn't really alter anything that I thought of during the "Did You Know" video. I think that no matter what, the world as we know it will constantly change and no one can be sure of what tomorrow will bring. Information, technology, and statistics will change every day.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The Stable Boy and the iPad
I think it is amazing that this little boy picked up on the iPad so fast. It only goes to show how broad a child's mind is and that we should never underestimate their abilities!!!

PROJECT #5-GOOGLE PRESENTATION

2010-09-10T19:57:00.000-07:00

Blog Post #3

2010-09-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

A Vision Of Students Today
This video probably captures the broad view of the average college student today. It is a little different from my experience but the same in some ways. I've never had a class size of over probably 40-50 students, always in a classroom not in a lecture hall. Most of my instructors have known my name in the past, although this is the first semester that I have taken hybrid courses. I spend most of my day online doing work for school this semester, so probably none of my instructors know who I am. What I am learning might prepare me for my profession but is it preparing me for the world around me? NO. But it basically captures the college experience for most people. Fortunately for me I will never have to pay back any college loans because I did time in the military, so the VA is paying for my education, thank you VA! The only thing that I would add to make this my own is that a lot of students have children and it is extremely difficult to find a balance between trying to be a parent and a student at the same time.VIDEO: A Vision Of Students Today
It's Not About the Technology
The future is technology. I think that we have established that. Ms. Hines brings up an extremely valid point. Although the future is advancing in so many ways, there is still a solid foundation for education, it is the teacher's willingness and dedication to their students. Teachers are learning as well as students, as they should be. There should never be a time when a teacher stops learning. As many resources that are available today to educate with, a lot of teachers are reluctant to teach with them because they are reluctant to learn them. Teachers have to be open to new changes and new ways of teaching. Why wouldn't an educator want to expand their horizons and prepare their students for the life that is ahead of them?!
Is it Ok to be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
No it is not! I like Mr. Fisch. He is very honest in his words and I appreciate that. I enjoyed this post. He makes such a great comparison as to not being technologically literate today as a teacher is the same as not being able to read or write 30 years ago as a teacher. How true. He also makes a point as to computers being around for 30 years now. How long will it take? I don't think someone should be embarrassed by saying they are technologically illiterate. What I think should be the embarrassing part, is the unwillingness to learn it. I thought I was computer-savvy until I took this course. But I am learning and I think that there is something to be said in that. I want to prepare my future students and I think that any educator who doesn't feel that way and isn't open to change, yes..they should rethink their career. It should be a requirement.

COMMENTS FOR TEACHERS (PART 1)

2010-09-07T05:03:00.000-07:00

The first teacher that I have been following is Jenny She from Auckland, New Zealand. She is very honest in her self discovery that her students have been teaching her! She posts a very interesting video in her blog about a young girl named Adora, who had her first book published when she was only 6 years old. Now Adora travels around the United States speaking to Education professionals about how adults can learn a lot from children. I am posting this video because I think it is something everyone should watch! What an intelligent young lady!
July 7, 2010-We Should Listen to the Kids!
On my first Teacher Blog, Jenny wrote how when she started teaching at a new school, the school was using MAC computers. She had never used a MAC before and she did not even know how to use the mouse! She was embarrassed to ask any of her fellow colleagues for help, so she asked her students. She was amazed to find how much the students knew about using a MAC. She said, without judgment or questions on why she did not know, her students filled her in quickly, and they continue to do so whenever a question arises. I think this is wonderful. Growing up in a different generation as kids today, there are so many lessons and new technology that we never learned about in our day. I think that if you can overlook the fact that a child may know more than you, you can learn so much from them. Just be open and give a child a little respect and you will be surprised as to what they know. I know that my own daughter who is only three years old, teaches me everyday. Imagine what a school-aged child, growing up in today's society with today's growing technology, can show you!

June 6, 2010-Are we Looking After Our Planet?
Jenny posted this video to her blog. It is a video about a man who just keeps hiding his waste and trash, in hopes that no one will be able to see it. It is supposed to assimilate how people on our planet just waste and waste. Out of site, out of mind. It is truly a shame that this really is the way of the world. Not many can say that they do their part to keep our planet clean. They just continue to waste. Pretty soon there will be no where else to hide it all. Here is a link to the video. It is very creative but the message is clear.
Thom Yorke-The Clock

Blog Post #2

2010-09-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

DID YOU KNOW?
WOW! This clip was amazing yet alarming. Technology is progressing so fast! Faster than we even know or are prepared for. It is scary to know that life as we know it now will not be the same in 5..even 2 years. What got me the most was that "for a student starting a technical degree, half of what they learn in their first year of study, will be outdated by their third year of study." WHAT?! You mean that there is more of this stuff to learn :) Seriously though, now I fully understand the meaning of this class. Honestly, I had no idea that classrooms today were full of smart boards and podcasts. I graduated HS in 1998, never even heard of a smart board. I guess it's either get with the program or get left out, because the world is moving forward whether you like it or not!VIDEO:DID YOU KNOW?

MR. WINKLE WAKES
Eye-opening. A little comical..but the point of the clip..sad but true. The education system needs to get with the program. They are so far behind the rest of the world. As fast as the world is turning, schools are using the same methods being used for years past, and students are being left behind. The Education System once again is left out, whether it be from low funds (which is more than likely) or maybe just too hesitant for change. Whatever the reason and whomever is running it, times they are a changing! How will we expect future generations to exceed us if we ourselves do not update our methods of teaching. Every professional that uses these technological advances are in school for some part of their lives. How will they learn these things if they are not learning them in school. I for one am for the change and I hope that I can be apart of it. We need to properly educate our future leaders of the world.VIDEO:Mr. Winkle Wakes

SCHOOL KILLS CREATIVITY
Sir Ken Robinson gives a speech about how in schools today, children are taught on a strict academic scale. He says that children are not afraid of making mistakes or being wrong and that as children grow, they are educated out of their special talents and creativity. I really enjoyed watching this video and it is so true. Children are so funny and so wonderfully artistic in their own way. They LOVE to dance, sing, draw, and paint pictures. Once they begin school, they are taught the important subjects, math, science, english, and history. There is very little emphasis on the arts. If they are not learning at the same rate as others, they are told they have a problem. Some children are more academically-inclined than others. That should not mean that children who are not, should be shamed for not doing as well as their more academically-inclined peers. I think that it is a shame that children are being taught on such a one track scale. Yes, it is incredibly important to learn those important subjects such as math and science. Saying that, it is equally important to encourage their creativity. Children spend the majority of their day in school and they are not being given the opportunity and more-so, being encouraged to be their own individual. That to me is wrong. Who is to say that a child's talent isn't a talent at all but a learning disability?! As a mother and a future educator, I will always recognize my children's and my student's creative capabilities!VIDEO:Sir Ken Robinson Says School Kills Creativity

HARNESS YOUR STUDENT'S DIGITAL SMARTS
This is amazing stuff! Vicki Davis has gone beyond just teaching her student's about the world. Her student's are actually interacting with others from all over the world. The future is computers and it goes back to the clip Did You Know? The world is progressing so fast technologically. Student's and schools need to jump on this bandwagon. A small rural town in Georgia such as Vicki's..these students would be learning facts about other countries out of a book, going in one ear and right out the other. Now they get a chance to see how other countries of the world live and seeing is believing. Vicki brings up an extremely valid point. She says that the thought process in schools is that a teacher is supposed to know it all before they can teach it. Not in her class. Her student's are teaching her. These students are having to educate themselves, by doing their own research. How much more do you think this information is sinking in than just reading it from a book? This is the way that it should be. Student's should be encouraged and "empowered" as Vicki says, to learn on their own. Every teacher should watch this video and empower their own students. They might just be amazed at what they could learn along the way!VIDEO:Harness Your Student's Digital Smarts

WORDLE

2010-09-01T19:03:00.000-07:00

Blog Post # 1

2010-08-25T19:41:00.000-07:00

Hi! My name is Margeaux Estevane. I am an Elementary Education Major. I was in the Air Force from 2001-2005 as a medical technician. I did all my training in Texas and was stationed at Travis AFB in Northern California. During my time in the Air Force, I went to Kuwait for 6 months and also to Germany for 6 months. After separating from the Air Force, I got married and had a little girl. My husband, previously in the Air Force as well, is now a rescue swimmer in the Coast Guard. Needless to say we have been moving around a lot the past 5 years. I grew up in Maryland my entire life until I joined the Air Force at at 21. My husband has been stationed in Mobile now for a year and a half and I am now in my third semester here at South. Our daughter, Ava Bella, is 3 years old and so much fun. She is basically my main interest besides school. The reason I want to enter into the education field is because I have a passion for children and watching them learn. I think that I have a lot to offer the education world. My biggest passion in my life right now is my daughter and teaching her about the world in which we live. I also love to cook and work out. I try to lead the most simple life that I can.