Blog Post #11

Mrs. Cassidy's Classroom

Mrs. Cassidy's classroom is definitely inspiration for how I could incorporate technology in my future class room. In the YouTube video the students di blogging as well as used Nintendo DS video gaming systems to engage in different learning activities. I thought that this was a cool way for students to learn to use the computer for fun things can be educational as well. As far as the video game goes, I never knew before this video that a Nintendo DS could be used for things that are educational. Hand held games like this will create a learning environment for a child anywhere and make children want to learn.

Mrs. Cassidy's Skype Interview with Dr. Strange and some students from EDM 310 was also interesting. Being able to Skype with a teacher whose students are assigned to you to comment on their blog is cool in itself. Cassidy says that she started her own web page about ten years ago and blogging about five years ago. She also talked about how she began the blogging process with her students. she says that she began with five computers and initially used them as a center where students would exchange a certain times or on certain days.

Cassidy says that she got federal funding too further develop the blogs and educational programming for the computers. She says that she also has support from her administrators and a technology coordinator. Cassidy says in response to a security question asked by Dr. Strange, that she sends home a syllabus at the beginning of each year to parents stating the details about the blogging and other online components that their children would be engaging in and how she intends to maintain their security in the process. One way that does this is by posting only students first names and if pictures are posted, the face doesn't match up with the name. These are definitely techniques that are clever in trying to maintain safety of the students and I intend to use in my future classroom. Cassidy also says that parents tend to have very positive feedback on the idea that their children will be on the internet because they like the idea of being able to go online and see the progress of their child's learning experience; the students enjoy it of course, because they are already exposed to technology. This just teaches them that technology can be very educational.

One thing that stuck out to me that Mrs. Cassidy said was "Why would children want to write on paper for the teacher to see it when they can write on a blog for the world to see." Things like this are very exciting to students because they get to interact with people from around the world that they never would have been able to do without this blog.

Mrs. Cassidy suggests for students who want to learn more about blogging and developing a PLN to start their own network like a twitter, blog, or YouTube to cater to what interests you. She says that it's sort of hard in the beginning but the benefits from interacting with these people and connecting with people that can help in your career is great! Overall, this skype interview as well as YouTube video was great. I definitely learned a lot and plan to use her advise about the PLN very soon.