Blog Post 4

Photo By: Article: Lead Me On

Asking Questions: What do we ask? How do we ask it?

The driving question that I will be discussing is "What do we need to know about asking questions to be an effective teacher?" I think there are many different ways that this question could be answered and I don't think there is a wrong answer either. I believe that asking students questions is the main way students stay engaged in any activity they are doing. As teachers, we need to base our questions off of how we think they will best benefit our students understand the material being asked. With every classroom students are different and as teachers we will have to use our own judgment call as to how our students will benefit from them. A point, that Ben Johnson makes in the article The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom, is that we as teachers ask the question "Do you understand?" and if no one answers we assume all the students understand. In actuality, Ben Johnson points out that if the student really doesn't understand he/she will not know they don't understand. In other words, there is no way they can answer a question they know nothing about or don't understand. As teachers, I think we should take the time to make sure our questions are not so vague in order to get good responses from the students.
In the article, Asking Questions to Improve Learning, it mentions that as teachers we should avoid asking "leading questions." I think that this is so true because a leading question gives the student a sort of hint to the answer, so they are not fully thinking critically on their own like they should be. Also, as teachers we should let the students fully answer and not interrupt or fill in what they are leaving out while they are still developing their own answer. To further answer the question "What do we ask" According to the article Three Ways to Ask Better Questions in the Classroom, we need to prepare our questions ahead of time. I think that this is a great suggestion. Not all teachers remember to do this, but while planning the lesson it is best to jot down potential critical questions that will better the lesson or activity. This way the teacher will be ready to ask questions that will benefit the students and help them to stay engaged.
Lastly, to look at "How do we ask the questions?" According to the video Questioning Styles and Strategies, teachers should ask in a self-expressive way to get the students attention or use an extended questioning method to further students thinking. There are many ways that teachers ask questions to students. If we (the teachers) take the time to value our questions and really think about how we ask them, then the students will benefit greater than listening and not comprehending questions being asked.

Blog Post 3

Source: Photo by 6 Traits Resources

How Can You Provide Meaningful Feedback to Your Peers?

Peer editing is something that is very useful in and out of the classroom. It is a way for peers to share their positive feedback with one another on their work, and then improve from the constructive criticism. Then main point that stuck out to me in these videos on peer editing is being positive when giving feedback. I know from experience, when someone is rude about a mistake you made it makes the feedback process discouraging. I 100% agree with peer editing and being positive while also addressing the issues in their piece of writing. The 3 sources were all about peer editing and what the purpose of giving meaningful feedback entails. All of the three sources mentioned the 3 most important steps in peer editing. The slideshow by Adriana Zardini, describes the steps and they include having positive compliments, suggestions, and corrections. These steps to follow are super easy to remember and if you say in your head "Did I leave a compliment?" "Did I suggest?" "Did I correct?" then you will create a quality editing response that will in turn help your peer improve in that piece of writing.

In the funny video, by Tim Bedley, it gives examples of students peer editing and "Whatever William" really stuck out to me. I've had an experience like this where the peer I was editing didn't say anything while we were supposed to be discussing their work. "Whatever William" just said yeah, ok, i don't know, etc. instead of engaging himself in the peer editing process. So don't be a "Whatever William!" Instead, during the peer editing process you want to be engaged with your peer so you both can bounce positive feedback off of each others ideas. "Pushy Patty" is a great example, from the video by Tim Bedley, about how not to be too strong willed while peer editing. No one wants to be pushed around during the editing process and each person should share their own ideas and work together to make the piece of writing better. Although, you don't want to be a "Pushy Patty" you do need to be willing to say your concerns with the problems in their work. These sources emphasize to not be afraid to correct your peer, but do it in a positive way. As long as you always go back to compliment, suggest, and correct you will always be on the right track when editing with peers. So the next time you find yourself being a "Whatever William" or "Pushy Patty" just take a step back and redirect your efforts in a positive way to provide them with meaningful feedback they can use!

Blog Post 2

Mr. Dancealot
In this video, the Professor Mr. Dancelot is teaching a social dance class in an auditorium seating classroom and reading from a powerpoint. Mr. Dancealot does demonstrate dance moves, but the students can not see because he is behind a podium. Also, when a student stands up and tries to do a dance step himself, Mr. Dancealot doesn't allow him to do so. Then, Mr. Dancealot expects the students who have been taught through notes in class, to dance in the ballroom for their final grade. Of course the students do not really know how to partner dance because they were never taught by actually physically dancing with a partner. The central message to this video is that students can not learn to do something on paper that they never get the chance to physically do, such as this dance class. Since the students never practiced with one another they were not ready for the final exam. Mr. Dancealot should have had class in the ballroom dance room so the students could pair up and learn the dance steps through physically dancing. In the end of the video, the students are dancing for their final and most everyone has their notebooks in their hands. This is how I think the author shows his case for the conclusion. The author is saying that students have to practice hands-on to learn. I agree with the author because students learn better with hands-on instruction rather than just reading a powerpoint.

Teaching in the 21st Century
In this video by Kevin Roberts, says the big picture question is "What does it mean to teach in the 21st Century?" He says that teachers are not the main source of knowledge the students learn, but that the teachers are the filters. Roberts emphasizes that entertainment is not engagement. For example, engagement is for learning and entertainment is for enjoyment. I think that Roberts really hits the point that teaching is changing and we as teachers need to utilize every 21st century tool that we can to better teach our students. Roberts says that students can find information whenever, whenever, and however and this is so right. Google is a click away. But teachers are the ones that teach the students HOW to navigate the information and HOW to accurately use the resources they find. Sure, there are so many sources out there to be used and analyzed, but students would not know what to do with the sources if someone [the teacher] did not help them learn to organize that data. I think that what Roberts says does affect me as an educator. I want to use every tool I can in our technologically based world to better teach my students so they will learn the most effective ways. As an educator, I will have to constantly collaborate and make changes to keep up with 21st Century teaching.

The Networked Student
In this video by Wendy Dexler, she wants the viewers to understand how important it is for students to build their network of many diverse connections and ties. The student learns how to blog, how to search for research, how to use that information he has found, and how to contact other people and learn from them. Also, the author, Wendy Dexler, is making it clear that it is important for students to be connected in their network and always keeping and finding new contacts to help them grow and succeed in everything they do. The student needs the teacher because she teaches the students how to keep all of their networking information organized, she is also his guidance, and she teaches him how to take advantage of learning opportunities throughout his life. I think that it is a great idea for a student to build a network because overtime the network will grow with so many connecting contacts and they will be able to use this network for anything they need to further their education and future reference.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
In this video, Vicki Davis, an IT director, is teaching at a very small school in rural Georgia. She makes her students become involved in so many different technology based learning techniques so that the students are exposed to learning new things around the world in a hands-on way. Davis explains that the students become so connected to learning new information around the world, which I think is a great way for students to be involved. Davis's thesis is about empowering the students and addressing that teacher is their guidance to learning. I totally agree with the way Davis is incorporating technology so effectively and hands-on for the students to use not only for her class, but for the rest of their lives.

Who's ahead in the Learning Race
In this video by Dr. Strange, it is obvious that elementary students of Baldwin County are ahead of undergraduate and graduate students in the "Learning Race." In this video the elementary students are using their MacBooks like it is a piece of cake. Young minds are like sponges and they absorb so much information and they can learn so much. On tools such as iMovie, I may need one of those elementary students to teach me how to navigate it! I think it is great that Baldwin County elementary schools are now able to provide their students with MacBook computers because it helps close the gap between technology and learning. With today's fast pace society, where technology is advancing daily, it is important that our students learn to adapt and grow as the technological society does the same.

Flipping the Classroom
In this video, Ms. Munafo explains what "Flipping the Classroom" is and its many advantages she hopes to bring with math in her class. I have actually never heard of flipping the classroom so it is new to me. I think that this approach would most defiantly be useful to me as a teacher for certain subjects because it gives the student the opportunity to learn the curriculum ahead of time. This way in class learning will be at a higher level and as a teacher I wouldn't spend too much time with instruction. I think that with any new technique there are pros and cons, but as a teacher I would at least give it a try and see if my students benefit from it.

Bringing the Locker Room into the Classroom
This article written by Craig N. Owens was from a very interesting point of view. I have never thought about "bringing the locker room into the classroom" so to speak. From my understanding, this technique provides the opportunity for questions and discussion amongst the students and the teacher. I would use this technique for the students to be able to share questions and concerns they have with the class through discussion and it makes learning fun when everyone in the classroom is engaged. Being engaged in the classroom is like being in a conversation that you are constantly learning from. The article says that the "coaching in the classroom" techniques is not exactly where they want it to be so that as teachers we learn from it, but there are high hopes to see where this program leads.

Source: Photo By Fractus Learning

Blog Post #1

I have heard a few things about EDM 310 from people and most say that this class is very time consuming and overwhelming. I think my major fear about this class is not doing a project correctly. Although I have a MacBook, I'm not very familiar with iMovie and other tools that we will use. I think EDM 310 is most definitely different from my other classes I've had at South because not only are all assignments online, but are through a blog. I've never had to write on a blog so it's a bit intimidating. In other classes, I have had assignments online but to an extent they are quizzes or short posts and not lengthy projects like I know this class entails. I think that the most difficult thing for me in EDM 310 will be managing my time. This semester I have several classes that take up my time, but I have to manage my time so that I can get everything done in each class. I think that at times I will become overwhelmed with projects and assignments, but to overcome this difficulty I will plan through everything I have to complete and manage my time wisely so that I accomplish ever task. The aspect of putting in hours for EDM 310 may be difficult at first, but I believe it is possible although it may be challenging at times. So far, I don't really know how to put into words the questions I have about this class. My questions may possibly just be fear of this class, but through the weeks I think that my questions will be answered when I start to complete projects and really see how the class works.

Practice Blog Post

I. Who am I?
A. Where I have lived
B. My major interests
1. Family
2. Friends
3. Teaching children
C. Attending USA
1. Only 2 hours from home
2. Friendly campus
D. Personal Information
1. 20 years old
2. Live in Saraland, AL
E. Family Information
1. Lived with my mom and brother
2. Own 3 dogs

II. Why I want to enter the field of Education
A. Always love working with children
B. Learning new things everyday
C. Improving the minds of children

III. An educator in the 21st Century
A. Teaching through technology
B. Collaborative teaching through hands-on activities
C. Teaching through creativity

IV. My Passions
A. Teaching children
B. My kids from the daycare

V. Other important things about me


My name is Robin Hinson and I am a Junior majoring in Elementary Education. I have lived in
Montgomery, AL all of my life and I love it. I love spending time with my family, hanging out with friends, and teaching my kids from work. I work at Satsuma Christian School/Daycare part-time when I'm not in class and I love being able to learn from them and watch them grow everyday. The reason I chose South Alabama was because it's only 2 hours away from my hometown, therefore I can visit frequently. Also, when picking South I loved the friendly environment and everything South had to offer. Back home, I live with my mom, my brother, and my 2 Yorkie puppies that are also apart of the family that I miss everyday I'm away from them. But while I'm attending South I live in Saraland, AL which is about a 20 minute commute to South.

I chose my major of Elementary Education because one of my passions is working with and teaching children. I love learning, and being a teacher I would not only be teaching children, but also learning something new everyday myself. In the 21st Century today, I believe that ways of teaching have grown and changed so much even in the last 10 years alone. Technology is a huge tool that has improved our classrooms rapidly. Also hands-on activities and creativity play major roles in teaching. As an educator, I believe in learning every useful teaching technique I can in order to improve the learning of my students. To share a little more about me and my passions, I believe I have many passions not just one. Although if I had to say my biggest passion it would be my family. I am beyond grateful for their support with everything I do. My many passions include my family, my friends, and teaching children along with my Preschool kids at work. Some people may say "you must have a passion for teaching to become a teacher because we know you're not doing it for the money" and they are right. It is a passion driven career and I am excited to see where it takes me and what opportunities await.

Source: Photo by Robin Hinson

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