When The Teacher Becomes The Student...The Learning Truly Begins! (AKA: A Funny Thing Happened With Technology)

This is a brief example of a funny thing that happended in my class a few years ago...fortunately, it has a happy ending! Hope you enjoy  :-)

http://msu.edu/~brumbelo/Garys_Funny_Moment.mp3

Me In A Minute...My CEP812 Bio

Hi Guys...This is my 60 second Bio...I hope you enjoy!!!

The 411 on 810/811...My Personal Learing Reflection X's 2

Photo Courtesy of Corbis Images
www.Corbisimages.com

The last 8 weeks in CEP810 and CEP811 have flown by...I can't believe that these classes are coming to an end. These past 8 weeks have been a roller coaster ride academically, emotionally, and physically. I would have never believed that so much could happen in such a short period of time! As winter is slowly melting into what I am sure we all hope to be a beautiful and warm spring, I want to take a moment to reflect on my time in these classes before heading back down this road I am on. Over the past 8 weeks I have taken both CEP810 and CEP811 together. I honestly did not know what to expect when I chose to begin my coursework in Educational Technology. Yes, I know and understand the terms education and technology. Yes, I had a general understanding of how the two fit together and what I believed to be educational technology. But, I was not sure where the professors would lead us and what areas they would focus on. In retrospect, these classes have been alot like driving down a country highway. At times, you can fly down a country highway, driving as fast as the road will allow you to go. At other times, you need to slow down for obstacles, to get your bearings, to visit with folks, and to just enjoy your surroundings. I have always enjoyed traveling country roads and this journey was no different.

Looking back over the coursework, I am reminded at how much we covered and how diversified the subject matter was. We did not just study technology tools or lesson plans that we could plug technology in to or resources on the internet. Instead, we learned about each aspect of educational technology and how they are intertwined. I always believed in differentiated instruction and blending new technology with proven teaching techniques. I never realized how much more was out there though. Two tools that I will take with me when designing my lessons are Instructional Design Plans and UDL. Both of these tools made me stop and truly focus on the goals and objectives of my lessons, assuring that they completed the task I had in mind and that they were effective lessons for all of my students. These tools will be invaluable to me in the future.

Another lesson that I have learned throughout my educational career is not to reinvent the wheel. If someone has designed the lesson I have in mind, use it. In learning about WebQuest's and in discovering MERLOT I have found two resources that will allow me to find well designed lessons that can be plugged straight in to my classrooms. These sites are filled with great tools and lessons for teachers that will make our lives easier and our instructional methods stronger for our students. I will also continue to be active with MACUL and utilize the resources found on their site and in the postings.

The biggest thing I have always believed when it comes to Educational Technology is that integrating technology into education just to do it is often times more damaging than never using technology at all. These classes have only intensified that belief. When I find a new tool or resource, my first thought is to incorporate it into everything. However, I have learned to step back and evaluate each item, looking for where it best fits into my instructional style and where it will give both me and my students the "biggest bang for our buck." A few of my favorite things that I am taking from these courses that I can't wait to implement in class are Web2.0 tools such as my RSS page, my Blog, my Wiki, my Delicious account, and my Twitter page (which my 16 yr old niece is using to fill up my inbox on my phone...LOL). I also can't wait to implement StAIR's and my new found ability to create my own webpage! The fact that I now have a webpage is pretty cool for me I must say...LOL.

The result from these classes is that I have accomplished many of the goals that I had set for myself. I have learned how to evaluate technology and effectively implement it in to my teaching. I have found new tools that will benefit me both professionally and academically. I have grown my Personal Learning Network. And, I have built upon my prior knowledge. The biggest thing that I leave with however is a reassurance that we must all be life-long learners. For everything that I learned in these classes, I realized that there is an infinite amount of knowledge out there waiting to be discovered. And with technology it is changing at an astronomical rate. My number one goal is to not stop seeking knowledge. I will continue to learn new methods and discover new tools. By continuing on in my Master's coursework and hopefully completing my Doctorate one day, I will continue to grow academically. By maintaining and growing my Personal Learning Network I will continue to find new and exciting ways to utilize technology in the classroom and create effective and engaging lessons for my students. And, I will continue to use and grow the tools that I currently have. I look forward to seeing what the next 8 weeks, 8 months, and 8 years has in store!

This Isn't Your Parents Old Research Paper...Online Learning Through Research

The Dewey Decimal System, Card Catalogs, Encyclopedia's, Almanac's, Atlas's, Journal's, and Anthologies...these were terms that I heard often growing up and they were items I used often for school. I know...I know...I just showed my age...LOL! I remember my mom taking me to the library to get new books when I was a kid. I would go to the card catalog, look up the author's or title's I wanted and write the letter and number combination down on a scrap piece of paper and then run off to find the next great story that I would lose myself in. I also remember working on research papers in high school. Pulling information from various sources and compiling my index cards along with my citation information. I would spend hours in the school library, my local public library, and occasionally I would have to go to one of the college libraries located near our home. I enjoyed research, and the writing wasn't to bad, but the hours spent looking things up in the library and the shear weight of the books I used was a bit much at times. However, what I learned during the process was invaluable. Learning how to properly research and find information and data I feel is a lost art and an invaluable quality to possess. That is why I have always incorporated some form of research project for my students to complete.

With the internet, research has changed so much. Students are now able to access virtually any type of information from anywhere in the world instantly. Students don't rely on their school library or public library, they browse virtual libraries and scour the Library of Congress. They are not limited to just the books they have access to, they can call up materials from around the world. They can utilize Google Scholar and JSTOR to find journal articles and publications. Research is now instantaneous and global. However, students need to unsderstand what online sources are factual and usuable, and what sources are not appropriate or scholarly. I utilize online research in a variety of ways,I have students find answers to questions, I have them locate answers to homework assignments and worksheets, I give them online fact-finding scavenger hunts, and I show them sights that are not appropriate to ues and demonstrate why. The internet is a massive source of information. The key is ensuring our students understand where the information originates from and if it is an unbiased and scholarly source or if it is used for hidden agendas or to sway individuals to one particular conclusion. By using the internet and online research lessons, students gain knowledge, understand the value or disvalue of certain sources, and know where to find information that is viable and accurate in a matter of minutes. This can be accomplished in a variety of short term and long term lessons...but my students can rest assured that there will be one major research project and multimedia presentation due when they enter into my classroom.

Jabberwiki...

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

Sorry...I couldn't resitst throwing in the first two verses of Lewis Carroll's nonsensical poem Jabberwocky from his novel Through the Looking Glass. I can not explain it, but every time I hear someone refer to a Wiki, I immediately return to this poem that has been one of my favorites ever since I had to memorize it in the 5th grade. So, naturally I decided to use Jabberwiki as the name of my very first Wiki page. Imagine my surprise when I found that it was already being used!!! I know...I couldn't believe it either! I was sure that I was the only one that had ever put Wiki and Jabberwocky together...LOL! Well, since I am not currently teaching at a school where I could update or create their Wiki page, I decided to share this incredible site that I found with you instead.

JabberWiki, according to their site, is a "Book Review wiki where students can exchange their reviews, comments, and suggestions about books." While this isn't the direction I was planning on going with my ode to the Jabberwocky, I will honestly admit that this site was a much better use of the idea. It does require that you sign-in and become a member in order to post to the wiki but from what I can tell it is free to join. The site allows you to browse book titles and read the reviews; however, to add your own thoughts you have to contact Matt. The site is hosted by The Nueva School in San Francisco, so I am sure that this site will be maintained and organized well. I hope that you will take the time to check out this awesome wiki and look to see how you can incorporate it into your classes.

Since I wasn't able to use my Jabberwocky/wiki idea, I had to come up with another imaginative and outside-of-the box title for my very first Wiki. After hours of thought and deliberation I finally decided on Brumbelow2.0...Catchy HUH!?!?!?! My idea for this Wiki is to open it up to all of my classmates from CEP810 and CEP811 to start. This will be a Wiki where we can discuss and share all of our new discoveries, success, and not so successful interactions with Web2.0 tools. As part of my efforts to broaden and strengthen my PLN, I thought this would be a great way to stay in touch with my classmates and to learn from one another. So, I invite each of you to visit my new Wiki and share your ideas...I look forward to seeing how this little expirement turns out!

Like Fingerprints and Snowflakes...No Two Students Are Alike!

Multiple Intelligences
The Centers for Quality Teaching and Learning

Spend any time in a classroom with students and you will quickly see that each young man and young woman before you is an individual. They have their own unique personalities and learning styles. Each student learns in their own way. Some students learn best by hearing and seeing the information, some learn best with hands-on activities, some need guidance and structure, while others flourish when they seek and explore knowledge on their own. It is imperative as a teacher that you identify each of your students learning styles as quickly as possible so you know how each best learns. In identifying these learning styles, you will begin to see where each of your students falls within the Multiple Intelligences. As your understanding of your students quickly grows, you will be able to shape your lessons so that each student has the opportunity to learn in a manner that best suits them. It is not possible, nor is it practical, to design each days lesson to teach each individual in a manner that is best for them. However, designing lessons that are based on ideologies such as differentiated instruction and Universal Design where one lesson builds upon another and each lesson presents the material in a unique and different manner benefits all students. By allowing all students to learn in various ways, the knowledge they gain is reinforced and retained more and more. Therefore, it is the duty of teachers to understand how students learn and how to design lessons based on that understanding. Once this is achieved, then students are successful in the classroom.

I was fortunate throughout my public school education and into college. I have success learning in a variety of ways. I love to read. Therefore, I have always had success in opening a text book, reading the material, and retaining the knowledge I have gained. If I can see the information and hear it explained, as in a lecture with visual keys, I retain the information well. I enjoy being able to work on projects and collaborate with fellow students. I thrive on discussions and debates and I am extremely comfortable in front of large groups leading discussions and giving presentations. While I am someone who likes order and structure, I am also an individual that works best when I can take charge of my own learning process. I realize how fortunate I am, learning has typically come easy to me. However, it has also come with a cost. In school, I was able to succeed with little effort. I quickly became bored with school and lazy in my studies. I was not excited about learning and I was not challenged. As a result, I did not put forth the effort that I should have. It was not until I was an adult that I once again found a passion for knowledge and education, a passion I grew within myself. I take this understanding of myself with me into each of my lessons. I remember what is was to be bored with school. I try and build each lesson with interest and enthusiam. I try to teach with excitement and passion. I put myself in the desk and review my lessons to ensure that I remember what it is to be the student. I hope by taking these steps I ensure that each lesson is created in a manner that is benficial to all students and differentiated so that I meet the needs of each individual.

No...CC Doesn't Stand For Copy-Cat...But, If You Know The Rules You Might Be Able To Copy & Paste!



U.S. at Night 2001
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

For my CEP810 Teaching Understanding with Technology class we studied the various aspects of Copyright Laws and Creative Commons Licenses. While this was definately not the most exciting lesson I have ever completed, it is a very important subject to address. We as educators have all used images from the internet in our lessons. However, did we take the time to see if the original owner of those photos had given permission for their property to be used? Did you give them proper credit for their photo? These are questions that we must all ask ourselves and assure that we are following the rules before we copy & paste a photo to use. Once you understand the process it moves pretty quick and is completed without alot of effort. The key is knowing what to look for, what the symbols and licenses mean, and how to properly give credit. So, where do we go to learn the rules? Glad you asked! Creative Commons, according to their website, is a nonprofit organization that develops, supports, and stewards legal and technical infrastructure that maximizes digital creativity, sharing, and innovation. This site will walk you through the process and help you to assure that you follow all of the rules when using media from the internet. I highly recommend you take some time to browse this site and see what it has to offer.

Once you know the rules you can feel confident in browsing the web and using various photos and media that you may find. I have found this extremely usefull when building lessons. As anyone who has ever entered my class knows, I use PowerPoint presentations on a regular basis. I use them as a visual aid when I give a lecture, I use them to provide visual information in a quick transition, to compare and contrast ideas, to front-load a new section, or with student lessons and projects. PowerPoint presentations can be a useful and versatile tool whenever you want to add visual (i.e. photos, videos, and music) elements to a lesson. My PowerPoint library has grown quite large and will continue to grow even larger. However, there are many other tools and ways to incorporate media from the internet into lessons. I would love to hear from you guys on how you locate and use media from the internet in your classrooms, Just remember to give credit where credit is due!

Finally, in this lesson, I opened a new account with Flickr. Flickr is an online hosting site where you can upload and store photos, like this one that I just recently uploaded...check it out! President Lincoln