Brigit Johnson

You only say good bye to people you never plan to see again, this is more like see you later. I do not like the word Good bye it sounds so permanent. I do like to think that somewhere down the road of life our paths will meet again and we will remember the time we had on Thursdays in EDM310. I wish you all happy futures and prosperous lives.

There are so many wonderful experiences I will take away from this semester. I have learned and grown so much and I am very grateful for each experience. I have discovered a whole new world of blogging and how it can allow you to share and exchange thoughts and feeling. I was able to create and maintain an IGoogle page and learn all the benefits that is has for my classroom. Starting my PLN was so beneficial because we need each other to survive in this world. The thought of teachers having sources to rely and depend on is phenomenal. Itunes is a tremendous bonus. I have an Itunes account and did not even know about all the free features for me and my students. Being able to reach out and comment on the children's blogs was fun. Children have fresh young minds that are full of great adventure. My professional blog is so nice I am proud of it the most. I like the fact I started and completed all my projects. The podcast and presentation was a awesome experience and I had

Dr Strange gives a twist on some familiar rules that take the rules and bend them so that they are more friendly and encourage students to give and be their best. I really liked the rule come to class on time or log in day or night. I have had the pleasure of taking online classes and going to a traditional classroom. I have to say I thoroughly enjoy both settings and feel that either one is great for learning it just depends on the students needs. The next rule that made me smile was, don't talk to you neighbor unless you are ideas, asking for help or giving help. I love group projects and feel students learn better when they are allowed to collaborate on the topic. Sometime keeping the students focused I am sure can be a challenge but the end result can be a positive experience for the students involved.

The same gentle Doug Johnson that posted an article about the mistakes teachers make when it comes to technology. Writes another article to give kudos for the 7 Brilliant Things Teachers Do In Technology . I really like how teachers have the ability to empower their students. Teaching is all about helping a child discover themselves and all that they can do. I feel that touching the life of a student and relating to him or her through technology helps them far beyond the school education but helps them in life. The next point that I strongly feel is beneficial and lacking in so many students lives is that they are only familiar with the settings that are around and them and never get a full view of the world. Technology is awesome because it give a child the means to communicate all around the world and learn different cultures and embrace diversity.

There are many teachers who have tried to advance with technology but still lack the etiquette that it takes to using a computer in a public setting. Doug Johnson's Seven Stupid Mistakes was funny and eye opening. The first rule that caught my eye was: treating a school computer like a home computer. No one should have that must trust to expose themselves to all who can see and not realizing that the computer is school property so any one is entitled to use it. It bothers me to think these adults have the right to teach and their poor judge of character is a little unsettling. The next rule that made think WOW was: not supervising the students. In today's society we can never turn our back on a student and hope they do the right thing. Children using computers need constant supervision and adult guidance so the make good decisions and learn how to use the computer in a positive way.

It is so important as an educator to have reliable resources that you can trust and depend on whenever you need help in and out of the classroom. I love the blogs site, At the the teacher's desk because the resources are so easily accessible and I know that the person providing the information knows how I feel and how to relate to my needs as a teacher. The topics range, so I can get updated on issues in and out of the classroom. Sometimes we can be so involved with the teaching we forget our social needs as adults need to be stimulated also. Political issues, important facts, blogging tips for you and your classroom and statistics that affect us as educators are all great topics that can be found and explored on this blog post. The post are very professionally presented and the resources used can be easily accessed for future reference. I know that teachers share a special bond and this blog post shows how when people care about each other and come together to help each other out

Dr Wesch makes a valid point that stuck out with with, about the importance TV plays in our lives. We often measure and the success of a person by what we see on TV and begin to compare our lives with what we see. We rarely ever get the full facts before deciding whether or not a person is worthy of the attention they are getting. It does not matter is the press is good or bad we make up are minds and give that person the rating we feel they deserve. As an adult I know how to make decisions based on character and moral. But many young people leave out the critical details and base what they feel about a celebrity according to the reputation the pose on screen We do not want to raise a society of children that believe if I do not act like a celebrity I have no worth. We need to work hard on guiding the future generation further from the television that educates children on bad moral decisions and get them more focused on long lasting positive decision making. Teachers have so much

Children need to know that what the have to say is important and they have a right to be heard. We all have a voice and ideas and what better way to show children the proper way to to be heard than through blogspot.com were they can creat their own blog page and websites like google.com , geared toward enhancing the learning experience. School should be so much more for students and it is the experiences that they recieve in school that prepare them for the real wold. We should incorporate positive expression of speech and help students know that they can have a impact in the classroom and in their world. There are also educational websites that kids can follow on twitter and facebook which can be vocal outlets for students and the website allows students to have fun will learning. One of the websites that allows students to follow them is kids know it .com .

I posted a comment on Canyon's post . He wrote about homecoming and all the fun activities that the school has going on to help boost student and team moral for the game. I love the fact he was so excited about homecoming and actually wanted to be involved. School is not just for learning what you read in a book but learning how to have fun and support other fellow student in what they are trying to do. Encouraging a team brings everyone together and creates a family atmosphere away from home.

Dzungu was the student blog I commented on. He talk about making a robot and programming the robot to do certain things. I have always been fascinated with robots and how they work. I remember a show about a little girl robot, when I was growing up. The name of the show was Small Wonder. She could clean but not always comprehend what was going on. Robots are becoming more and more apart of our lives everyday. My favorite robots are Transformers. The more technology advances the more use we will have for them. Robots

I posted a comment on Molly's blog. She talked about Hippie Day, I had never heard of this day so I thought it was very interesting. She seemed to have her information together and her blog was well written. I told her about the shirt I tie dyed in 6th grade. I loved that shirt. Dmitriy has a dog that chased a squirrel and got out of breath. He really loves his dog and the story was very cute. I told him about how my daughter wants a dog and I hope she take care of it. The squirrel got away and the he took his dog in the house for some much needed water. Drake has a new phone, I am a phone lover. Drake talked about how he picked out his new phone and finally decided on the right one. I took some time when I decided on my new phone also. I researched and a made sure it was right for me. He has a touch screen so I made sure to tell him to take good care of the phone. Carter has a Gecko, I love anything with legs for a pet. So I thought him getting a gecko was cool. He gave us a

I had to choose five individuals that would be apart of my personal learning network. These are not just five random people but individuals that will be a contributing factor in my professional and personal life as a teacher. When I selected these five, I thought about not only what they do, but how the add to my career and how they will effect the lives of my students and their parents. The goal of networking is not just see what you can get for yourself but how you can help someone else, that is what helps the network grow. The first person in my network I follow on Twitter (ali1st). She is a licensed counselor and provides great encouragement and a positive attitude. As a teacher I know that I will run across situations that maybe emotional overwhelming for me. I also love the fact she has insight on emotional and behavior disorders so she can help me see how to better help my students. I plan on moving to the city she lives in so I could even refer my parents if the inquire, to her

I was very moved by the story and love of a father for his daughter. The positive response was awesome and even though I can understand his concern for his daughter's safety, it seems that so far everyone who has shared in this experience has respected her and she was given courtesy with each response. I think this is wonderful for Kaia to have when she grows up, and can see and understand the international effect her life had on other students. As much as I loved the blog I did not like the voice thread. I did not like the pauses in between each statement and I think for her being a little girl she would have followed a short video rather that the individual comments on the voice thread. Also the voices reminded me of the movies when someone has kidnapped a child and wants a ransom. I just did not feel warm and fuzzy like I felt as I read the blog.

I think the New Media Literacies are needed to teach young people how to use the Internet as well as other networking sites effectively. These media literacies can also help a generation of mature adults that are not familiar with using a computer and may not know all the rules of being online and what information to trust. These skills are needed in the 21st century for all grade levels and especially at work and can help if they are learned and applied. I would like to think I use all of the literacies and because I do my experiences with information I obtain has been positive. We have to become more aware of out use of everyday media so we can use it effectively. I searched the Internet and found a site AAUP that further explained the nmlp and how it is important for teachers to be familiar with the world that students live. Whether it is used in good or bad way the fact remains most students are exposed and have access to some type of media technology. We have to teach our young

As advanced as we are in technology, technology will never replace a teacher. Teachers are needed to give direction and guidance and help students know what is expected of them and how tocommunicate effectively to get the information they need from others. Even though the student used a lot of different technological devices to get what he needed for his assignment he needed his teacher to tell him how to access and get started in the right direction. Teachers not only provide the lesson plans for the classroom but online also. I have taken online classes before and enjoy the freedom of being able to work on my own pace and as long as I had the assignment turned in on time. But if I had questions or was not quite sure about something I could refer back to the instructor of the course for assistance. The main thing I think about with technology is that not everyone is going to be able to buy or have access to a computer. So the transition from standard classroom teaching to taking class

I loved everything about this video part one and two. I would love to expand my computers skills and learn how to fully operate and use multimedia in the ways Dr Miller talked about and demostrated on the video. I think not only would I, appreciate this artform but my students also. They would enjoy the diversty of this learning technique and not get as bored, as they would with traditional teaching methods. I know the cost of those type programs is not cheap but it is worth every penny to educate our children with the best most advanced equipment possible. If we want our students to be ready for college and then the work force we have to be sure we are giving them every advantage. The slides incorporated with he sound flowed and captivated me, so I know any student who is in the classroom will find some part of the multimedia presentation that would grasp and keep their attention. I feel that technology is not going anywhere and but steadily advancing and be coming more user friendly,

Dr Alice Christie is a very passionate and dedicated instructor. You can tell by her site that she is not only interested in educating her students. But also making sure that teachers have to information they need to be effective in the classroom. I enjoyed looking over the Google Earth information and learning new techniques to use and finding out how to improve my own Google page. She was very clear and to the point with her tutorial and did not loose me with a lot of technical jargon. Sweet and simple just how I like it. I am new to Google so sometimes the unknown can make anyone shy away from something, but the more I use Google the more I like what it has to offer and the easy navigation will be great for my students learning their way around the Internet for the first time. Google is fun and makes sharing information effortless. The fact I can go to a site and use all the typical documents that I have to open more that on page for in Microsoft word is awesome. Of course Google ha

Most people you would just assume know about iTunes, at least the general information like what it is and how to uses it but this is not true. Even people how use it on a daily basis do not even know all the possibilities of resource that iTunes has to offer. iTunes is for more than just downloading music, games or movies but can be used to access educational lesson, podcast and books. iTunes University provides students and teacher the the resources the need in the classroom. For teachers it is a way to reinforce the lessons being taught and offer additional study material to help students on assignments and test and for students they get the opportunity to enjoy using a website they already know so they do not spend a lot of time looking for the material needed. Ehow is a great website that explains all about iTune University and how effective it is and all the benefits it has to offer. The step by step tutorial is plain and easy to follow for even an beginner. eHow

I thought that when I went looking for uses of iPods in education that I would find plenty of uses for them in higher education, middle, High School and of course College. Duke had a great article in their library about uses for iPods and how so many students already had them it only made since to incorporate them into to class. What really amazed me was that I found a website telling how iPods are used for Pre-k. At first I thought this too much, children this young should not be using iPods. But why not? Children are very capable of learning computers and what ever else you put in their hands to do. It actually maker better since to teach children when they are young so they are not behind in the classroom and hinder their education the website had tech savvy ideas for teachers to use in the classroom to enhance the learning experience and keep learning. Pre-K using iP ods

I thought this blog was wonderful. I will definitely read it again and again as I begin my career as a teacher. There were so many ideas that I felt really gave me some insight on what to expect my first year as a teacher. Mr McClung made me feel OK not to be perfect but to remember that I am there for the children. I do not want to ever take myself too serious to the point I allow stress to take over my classroom. The main point I took away from him post is to always remember that your students are just children who will make mistakes and that you should not be to hard on them. The worst way to try and reach a child is to make them uncomfortable in you classroom and make the learning experience something they do not look forward too. If my students are scared of me the will not learn as effectivly. I always want to be the kind of teacher that gives my all and is not afraid to keep trying. I want students to experience a different type of teaching that carries them out of the classroom

Wikipedia is a popular, pop culture site that if you are in your teens you may feel is a reliable source, as a college student you should know better. This source can be trusted to some extent but information should always be backed up by two or three other reliable sources. The information is quick and accessible and the the fact that the information can be changed is a thing of the past. New regulations require that all info be submitted to a review board before it can be submitted onto the Wikip edia database. I think this will cut down on a lot of the unreliable information that was so readily available and keep the site from losing any more credibility. Wikipedia

Daily Motivation This lecture not only motivated me but inspired my way of thinking. I thought it would be hard to look past the elephant in the room to see what Randy was trying to say but he is a dynamic speaker and I started feeling more sorry for myself than for him. This man lived his life to the fullest and taken advantage of every opportunity given to him. I should be so blessed to achieve the things he has in my lifetime. The "Brick wall" analogy was my favorite. So many things can try to come against you to make you doubt yourself and make you want to give up on you dream but you have to keep you eyes on you goal and never let failure scare you out of doing what you love. We were never meant to fail I believe God's Divine purpose for us was to succeed and be more that conquers. Every since I was a child I have wanted to be a teacher. I used old workbooks and taught my dolls and even visualized myself in front of the classroom. High School was not the best experie

No,No,No, there is no way to be an effective teacher and not be technologically savvy. I do not think that is the only way to reach a student, but it is a big part of reaching today's student. We do not live in a pencil and paper only society, students are doing and learning things online less positive than they should be exposed to and it is up to us to teach them ways to take a computer and further their education. I do not know of any teacher that has not advanced with the times and accepted computers as a positive way to instruct and reinforce what they are teaching. Every job requires technological skills and if we are grooming the futures work force environment we have to give the every chance we to be competitive in the workforce. School is the foundation for good success and the success includes computer knowledge on every level.

I loved the statement Ms. Hines made about "Teachers must be Learners." I know from experience that a lot of teachers are not good teachers because they do not know how to take instruction, you first have to be willing to listen and learn before you can be an effective teacher. As teachers we should always be eager to stay ahead. Our students depend on us to give them what they need to succeed in life. If we do not learn how to adapt our teaching habits to address the issues that face each generation of students we are missing the mark. We have to have an open and willing mind to always take information in and process it in ways that keep our students excited and eager to learn. I always enjoy a class were the information is fresh and current and applies to my life and I am able to give positive or negative feedback and the teacher can take my feedback and help me understand things better. Those are the instructors who are forever putting themselves out there to learn

I think it is to ironic that I was sitting in class thinking some of the same thoughts and feelings as the students in this You Tube video. The fact is that the most of what you experience in college you have to wonder how it is going to help you in your life. I truly value education and I do see it's worth but I feel most instructors spend too much time emphasizes on the material being taught instead of applying the material to my life. I am an Education Major and the first two years of my college experience was spent on classes that I do not feel will help me in the classroom. I want to get my money's worth and a lot of my money I feel was wasted. Why should someone trying to better themselves be 20,000 in debt. The education system is somewhat discouraging unless you have a determined mind to not focus on the negative and see the end as a reward. The fact that I am now getting a Bachelors and will have to get a Master's to make real money to pay back my loan is c

I will have to be honest by the time I got to this podcast I was burnt out. I am ready just to do my own podcast and get it over with. But then I realized that being eager and not prepared was a bad approach and really took time to listen and try to get tip that would help me have a great podcast. A script well rehearsed will be my first mission and also having an outline on how I want the conversation to flow. The podcast is what you make it and I am fun so I do not want an all talk no fun podcast. I plan on working with my peers so we have great chemistry and feed off each others energy. The topic is extremely important if it does not create excitement then it is hard to make up interesting thoughts as you go along. I know I will have a great experience and learn from the first podcast so that next one will be even better.

In my early days as a Telemarketer I was told a smile on your face can be heard in your voice. I have always kept that with me as I worked in various call centers and even when I answer the phone at home. That is the one thing I want my listners to hear in my Podcast a warm happy voice that does not bore you but makes you want to hear more. Also in viewing the dffierent Podcast I realize I like the podcast and Blog done by Langwitches there were a variety to choose form and I think the voice quality really kept my attention and did not make me yawn. Rule #1 do not bore the listener. The speaker had good tone and gave a lot of useful information. The more I listen to the different podcast the more comfortable I feel about doing my own. We all have something to share and information that will help each other. I learn something new everyday and having a podcast allows me to give my feedback in a positive way so teachers or students get the opportunity to grow. The podcast are many lessons

I love my computer and I do not take the time to think about the different ways that it can be more than just a computer. For someone who cannot see or is unable to type a paper on their own, a computer is so much more than a tool to browse the Internet but a means to reach the world. The software available is amazing, that fact that no one has to be left out of the world of advancing technology is wonderful. My major is Special Education the Window Eyes would be the idea teaching tool for my blind students and Magic for my students who have partial site. Via voice also allows hand free typing ofr students not able to use standard typing method. Most lesson, games and tutoring material can be uploaded on these programs and make learning fun. No person with a disability wants to be treated like an outcast and this software not only includes them but also gives freedom to not be afraid of working on the computer. I am so glad that I have help to make my classroom a learning parad

I would not think of going into a store picking up an item and walking out. The fear and guilt would not even allow me to consider that as a method obtaining merchandise I could not afford. The idea of someone taking something from me that I have worked hard for is also not an experience I would want to encounter. The same concept goes for stealing another person's ideas and putting them down on paper as if they were your own. Whoever took the time to put life and meaning to written word deserves to have those ideas preserved and not tampered with. Plagiarism not only is wrong but robs you as the writer from the chance to truly see how you can express yourself and show the true talent that lies within. The websites I viewed all have great ideas to not only keep you from passing off another person's work as your own. But help the writer develop their own ideas for whatever they are they are trying to express. We all have thoughts and feeling to share it just takes time to get th

This podcast is great for beginners in starting there own podcast. I picked up a lot of good tips and ideas for different podcast. Knowing there is more than way to use a podcast and how you can upload different podcast is very exciting. When I think of podcast I did not always associate it with teaching. Now have new fresh ideas of how I can involve my class and help them get excited about learning and posting their own podcast.

Being able to hear the podcast along with seeing the tutorial was very intriguing. I especially like the fact they did not get to technical but get everything on a college not elementary level. The podcast flowed nicely and did not stay on on thing too long. Having the continual feedback that the instructors gave one another was a added plus. Sometime hearing on person talk the whole podcast is boring and I lose interest very quick.

Good podcast, sound quality awesome . The fact that they made a hand strap sound so interesting is a good thing. I am not into professional photography but the chemistry between the different people made me stay tuned in longer than I expected to. I think the main thing I really picked up from this podcast, for when I do my own is if you relax and have fun, your listener will enjoy the podcast more. The laughter was contagious and it just sounding like a group of friends talking and sharing good information.

I really enjoyed this podcast. The dialect between the the speakers flowed, the information was clear and useful. What better way for a teacher to enhance their learning skills than from learning from each other and receiving feedback in the classroom. It is easier to relate to someone who knows what you are going through on a daily basis and can encourage you and guide you to being a better teacher. We are all different and have vital information to share to help one another. Teachers give to their students everyday and sometimes it is feels good to get back what you put in. Quality of voice sound could have been better

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The school in the short film seems like a dream, but then you wake up. The school pictured is idea for learning and also teaching. That would be wonderful to have so much interaction that the students never get bored and are happy to come to school and participate every day. The reality is that you needed a lot of determination and money. I am sure schools like that really exist in the world, but do they exist here in Alabama. The current budget does not even allow enough teachers for all the students we have let alone a computer for each student and a Nintendo WII game system in the school. I dare not give up hope that that type of learning environment is possible but I am realistic in knowing that it will take awhile for us to get there. Does that type of learning work, I believe it does. Children enjoy being able to touch and interact with computers and games for learning, We have all seen children in front of a video game and wonder how the stay so transfixed on screen for hours.

Exposure to the world is the best way to get a child thinking about more than what goes on in his or her small town. Children needed be realize that there is a big world ready for exploring if they are the tools and know how to succeed. I believe that is exactly what Vicky Davis is doing for her students. She has taken a computer and used it as a great tool for education. In smaller towns computer technology can sometimes not be easily accessible and hinder someone who wants to learn about computers. Vicky is making sure that when her students get ready to go into the work force they will not only know how to use computers but the correct terminology used when dealing with computers. Our job as educators is to see and understand were our students fit in today’s society. We need to start working toward having well rounding individuals who can function outside of the classroom and not feel held back by the lack of what they do not know. When a student succeeds not only does the teac

I agree with Sir Ken Robinson 100% I can remember being in school and just wanting someone to reach the side of me that did not want to sit in a desk all day but go outside and have class. We take children who are full of energy and do nothing to harvest the energy for good but tell them that they are bad because they will not sit for over 6 hours in a day. If we do not learn as teachers ways to think outside of the box and teach expression whether than rules, we teach our children to be boring adults so the suppress all that cries out in them to live. I learn better when I am able to express the ideas and thoughts that fill my head. Whether right or wrong, I at least like the idea of trying and seeing what new fabulous way I can discover to do something. We should look closer and see what talents a child has and let them create from within, instead of medicating everyone who does not follow a certain grid for behavioral development. This short film has made a tremendous effect on

Technology is moving at a very fast pace. Americans are going to have to find ways to keep up with the current trends so we are not lagging behind. It is not a secret that China has been far more advanced for many years, but now other countries are starting to catch up also. If the jobs that college students are preparing for do not consist of technological advancements there is a good chance of a lot more students graduating without jobs. Teachers at the elementary school level needed updated training so that they are able to prepare future generations to keep up with were computer knowledge is taking us. There is nothing wrong with being educated in technology but we also do not need to get so advanced that we forget the core of good education. The fact that a computer can operate in place of humans, leaves an open space for trouble. Allowing too much technology to take over causes lose jobs and more headache. Computers are great for assisting in everyday task but should n

Hello everyone, My name is Brigit Johnson and I am not a native of Mobile but have lived here since I was twelve so it is my home. My Dad retired from the Army, so I guess you could say I am an Army brat. I was born in El Paso Texas and have lived in Germany twice; I traveled quite a bit enjoyed learning about the different cultures and people of other nations. I look forward to being able to enjoy more adventures in the future. I am a single mother and have been for ten years and have tremendous support from my mother and family. My daughter Brooke keeps me busy and always has something new she wants to try. She is a full time Girl Scout and has fallen in love with archery; she is not that bad at it. My major is Special Education and I am very excited to finish and get the opportunity to actually work with children who have so much potential and need a good teacher to help them shine. I currently work as a call center representative and sitting behind a desk all day is not my