I want to wish my fellow classmates the best of luck in all of their future endeavors.
I have enjoyed listening to podcasts, watching presentations, and learning information with each and every one of you.......
I feel that as time goes on, we will all see ourselves as confident and ambitious teachers.
Thank you for help making this course experience an enjoyable one....
Keep In Touch!
Jonas L. Cockson
Sunday, May 3, 2009
What I have learned from EDM 310...
I feel that I have learned a great deal about education and technology within this class/course. As a future teacher/educator, I feel that it is my responsibility to take what I have learned from this course and use it to become a more effective teacher.
The sum of the parts that make up Google (Docs: spreadsheets, forms, and presentations, iGoogle, and Earth) have taught me to take advantage of programs that are "free" (in terms of cost), especially if they serve as an educational aid to teachers and students. Web-based media programs (social networking sites), such as Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube have taught me that programs such as these (which are usually used strictly for entertainment purposes) can be used beneficially within a scholastic program.
I even began to gain respect for Mac-based applications. The Podcasts and iTunes store demonstrated to me how a person can participate in a portable, hand-held educational experience at just about any location in the world. To me, both of these innovations can be used as a way of propelling the present state of education into the future.
The thing that I enjoyed learning about the most in this course was the blogs. To me, both the individual and professional blogs helped me gain a better understanding of myself - not only as a writer but as a future teacher. I feel that both of these (along with the class blog) have played a huge part in my decision to continue the pursuit of my dream - to teach English to students outside the U.S.
In essence, I feel that I have learned that education and technology are not only compatible - they are essential in the evolution of educational practice and excellence. As I have said before, I feel that I have a responsibility to my students by offering them the best education possible. I feel that the teachings of Dr. Strange and the course itself will help me in maintaining that responsibility. However, it is up to teachers to decide for themselves whether the combination of these two (education and technology) will become their "greatest fear" or "most valuable asset". I have picked the latter.
The sum of the parts that make up Google (Docs: spreadsheets, forms, and presentations, iGoogle, and Earth) have taught me to take advantage of programs that are "free" (in terms of cost), especially if they serve as an educational aid to teachers and students. Web-based media programs (social networking sites), such as Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube have taught me that programs such as these (which are usually used strictly for entertainment purposes) can be used beneficially within a scholastic program.
I even began to gain respect for Mac-based applications. The Podcasts and iTunes store demonstrated to me how a person can participate in a portable, hand-held educational experience at just about any location in the world. To me, both of these innovations can be used as a way of propelling the present state of education into the future.
The thing that I enjoyed learning about the most in this course was the blogs. To me, both the individual and professional blogs helped me gain a better understanding of myself - not only as a writer but as a future teacher. I feel that both of these (along with the class blog) have played a huge part in my decision to continue the pursuit of my dream - to teach English to students outside the U.S.
In essence, I feel that I have learned that education and technology are not only compatible - they are essential in the evolution of educational practice and excellence. As I have said before, I feel that I have a responsibility to my students by offering them the best education possible. I feel that the teachings of Dr. Strange and the course itself will help me in maintaining that responsibility. However, it is up to teachers to decide for themselves whether the combination of these two (education and technology) will become their "greatest fear" or "most valuable asset". I have picked the latter.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Project 6: My Interview With Mrs. Cockson
Throughout the course of this semester, I had been trying to get in touch with a teacher or an educator living and working somewhere other than Alabama. The reason for this was because of a class assignment known as Project 6 (which almost sounds like some kind of top secret project conducted by a government agency). Of the many teachers and educators that I tried to establish some sort of contact with, only one responded. Her name - Mrs. Sylvia Cockson (who just happens to be a teacher, as well as my mother).
Mrs. Cockson has taught grades K-2 (5 students ages 5-8) at Bondurant Elementary School in Bondurant, Wyoming for the past year. I asked Mrs. Cockson a few questions concerning the subjects she taught to her students, the different types of curriculum she utilized, and how she incorporated technology within her students education.
Mrs. Cockson told me that she covers many subjects, such as Language Arts (English, Reading, and Spelling), Math, Social Studies, Science, and Music. In terms of the curriculum she uses, she informed me that she uses a county/district approved program (known as the "Treasures" Program) to teach Reading to her students. She also said that she has used the "Bridges" Math program to teach her students lessons on measurement, rate, and picture/word problems. Mrs. Cockson also uses keyboards and singing to teach her students Basic Music Theory.
As far as technology and education are concerned, Mrs. Cockson's students (who each have their own classroom computer) have learned about Natural Resources (Earth Day and Recycling specifically) by viewing the website National Geographic.com. Her students also use the Internet to learn about Endangered Animals, as well as lessons about Typing (Dancemat.com and Type to Learn.com). She also informed me that many of the students parents are concerned about their child's' computer proficiency/skills. Because of this, Mrs. Cockson continues to find more ways to use technology within her classroom. Currently, she is working on a Smart Boards for Math program for her students. In terms of teaching related uses for technology, she uses Ed-Helper.com (for curriculum /holiday ideas) and Mailbox Companion.com.
One of the last things I asked Mrs. Cockson was if she was going to utilize web-based media or blogs to introduce her class to other educators and classrooms around the world. She said that she would look into these - especially to communicate and share ideas with other teachers and their classrooms. Overall, I enjoyed talking with her about not only about her teaching and curriculum, I enjoyed talking with her about the use of education within technology as not just a possibility - but as a reality (especially within her classroom).
Mrs. Cockson has taught grades K-2 (5 students ages 5-8) at Bondurant Elementary School in Bondurant, Wyoming for the past year. I asked Mrs. Cockson a few questions concerning the subjects she taught to her students, the different types of curriculum she utilized, and how she incorporated technology within her students education.
Mrs. Cockson told me that she covers many subjects, such as Language Arts (English, Reading, and Spelling), Math, Social Studies, Science, and Music. In terms of the curriculum she uses, she informed me that she uses a county/district approved program (known as the "Treasures" Program) to teach Reading to her students. She also said that she has used the "Bridges" Math program to teach her students lessons on measurement, rate, and picture/word problems. Mrs. Cockson also uses keyboards and singing to teach her students Basic Music Theory.
As far as technology and education are concerned, Mrs. Cockson's students (who each have their own classroom computer) have learned about Natural Resources (Earth Day and Recycling specifically) by viewing the website National Geographic.com. Her students also use the Internet to learn about Endangered Animals, as well as lessons about Typing (Dancemat.com and Type to Learn.com). She also informed me that many of the students parents are concerned about their child's' computer proficiency/skills. Because of this, Mrs. Cockson continues to find more ways to use technology within her classroom. Currently, she is working on a Smart Boards for Math program for her students. In terms of teaching related uses for technology, she uses Ed-Helper.com (for curriculum /holiday ideas) and Mailbox Companion.com.
One of the last things I asked Mrs. Cockson was if she was going to utilize web-based media or blogs to introduce her class to other educators and classrooms around the world. She said that she would look into these - especially to communicate and share ideas with other teachers and their classrooms. Overall, I enjoyed talking with her about not only about her teaching and curriculum, I enjoyed talking with her about the use of education within technology as not just a possibility - but as a reality (especially within her classroom).
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