I was happy to hear this recording was introduced by Couro because I really enjoy the enthusiasm in his voice which is so important for these kind of observations. He joked that his guest Dean Shareski put the share in Shareski. Something funny was mentioned; he said that no matter where you are in the world, you can still be part of this class. Which not only made me think of people who are living on different parts of the world, but of people like me who are collaborating a year later by listening. I wish I could write a whole post on Shareski’s quote, “live a balanced life-learn some think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.” It really reminded me of Pink’s six senses when he describes Play. I’d like to do a jumping picture as well. I have to say I enjoyed Shareski more than Couro J I don’t think I’ve ever seen preschoolers and kindergartners as sophisticated ,but after listening to Shareski I must say how much more advanced they are than the rest of society. Kids learn to get along, interact with people, and share things with one another. As grown-ups we get caught up on our own lives and not only forget others but disregard their existence sometimes. Sharing stops being as important as it once was, unfortunately now a days consecutiveness has now become more useful than knowing things. Although I’ve personally never had too many problems sharing with the people around me who are actually in my life, I’ve always found it difficult to share myself with people who are different than me. I’ve concluded that it’s pretty selfish of me to deprive others of my personality, strengths, and humor not to mention connectivity.
Friday, December 21, 2012
On Alec Couro’s “Social Media and Open Education”
This recording was way better than the one I observed before. It’s a bit longer than the other one, and I’m assuming they all will be, However, I must say that I found it quite enjoyable. Another thing that I found sweet was that a Google Doc was provided for us so that the listeners/speakers could use as guides. I’m a visual learner, and therefore found it fantastic. Again, I felt that the main drive for social networking is experimentation. After watching this video and learning that this instructor requires his students to have a blog, I’m wondering whether I should join a network. I truly feel like I have the skills necessary to do so. I specifically loved the way the speaker explains how he created a blog bundle for his class. He subscribes to every student’s blog by using Google reader, creates a folder and then creates a bundle that allows people to subscribe to a package of resources. This is what I’d like to do with my future students, I’d really like for my students to coexist the way we did in Educ 578 for Jeff Heil’s class. I was also surprised to hear the reader touch up on “What makes an engaging blog post,” particularly because my instructor used a pin on that very subject to teach me how to tweet through Pinterest. I was also very grateful to hear the speaker answer questions to people who ask questions, even though I can’t hear the questions, I learn so much by the speaker’s comments. It’s almost like a regular classroom, when a student is relieved that another student asked a question because they too needed clarification. He also mentioned that even though we may not be network professionals, that shouldn’t stop us from retweeting and redistributing information, even videos. A girl said something a little before the end of the recording that stood out to me, she mentioned something about the more of an EXPERIENCE we have with twitter the safer she felt, or better yet the more she trusted the tool. I found this especially interesting because I just participated on my first Ed chat yesterday and was very happy to see that I fell into the right hands of people who were extremely welcoming. It is because of that initial welcoming that I will most definitely participate in the next Ed Chat two weeks after winter break J I enjoyed this recording way better.
On Stephen Downes’ “The Role of an Educator in a Networked World”
First I’d like to say that this videos was super long. And even though the information being shared was interesting, the voice of the speakers made me doze off once in a while. I did however, notice that the chat was a lot like the one we had online as a class the second time we had a conference. I found a great connection between the emphasis being put on the role of engagement in the classroom as a community rather than acquired knowledge and things I’ve observed on our assigned videos and in our classroom. I have seen this idea twice before: Once, when viewing the video on Learning Environments and twice with my Professor at USD. Throughout the semester he encouraged us to cultivate our own PLN and tried to take as little role in my learning as possible. He was there simply for guidance and support and left my learning experience entirely up to me. I’ve never had that before, and I struggled at first, but now I think it has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I have noticed that the role of an educator in a networked world may work for an educator out in actual classrooms as well. It is not necessarily that we are allowing them to construct their own curriculum and standards, but we should allow them to make decisions as to which tools they’ll use to grow in knowledge.
Pastel de tres leches
On Making Toni's Chile Verde
http://pinterest.com/pin/500251471078689398/
On Making Flour Tortillas
These are the videos I followed:
(pinned this one from youtube): http://pinterest.com/pin/500251471078689343/
(and considered this one as well): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM5Jl3n7iP8
On Learning in New Media Environments
Going through Dr. Wesch’s virtual tour of New Guinea reminded me of my best friend’s Mexican hometown (more like home-ranch because it’s a deserted area where poverty-stricken homes are far away from each other). Something that really stood out to me while watching this video is that I don’t think I’ve experienced the feeling of culture shock, at least nothing uncomfortable. If I’m in Mexico I speak Spanish, if I’m at school I speak English, and if I’m with my friends I speak Spanglish. I’m like a chameleon in my community, I don’t fit anywhere yet I blend in everywhere. I’d really love to feel that feeling of complete culture shock, it must be exciting. As a student I feel a bit cheated of my education. I can count numerous classes that have sent the wrong message: that learning is acquiring information and that I must face the teacher to keep from interacting with my peers. When in reality, my instructors should have been creating, “caring, daring, and collaborative learners.” Take this class for example, I haven’t been bored once. Every class felt more like hanging out with my friends than attending class, and I’ve learned more here than in any class at USD or SDSU for that matter. After watching this video I understand why my Professor wanted us to cultivate our own learning and connect with one another. He didn’t want to limit our learning. As an educator and as a leader, I will always remember his consideration towards us and find a way to show the same respect and courtesy to my future students.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
A more formal approach to my observations at Paul Ecke Central Elementary School
Last time I wrote about my observations at PECES, I didn’t address the topic questions I was instructed to address. Very briefly, I’d like an opportunity to answer them now: 1).The main form of technology that we witnessed at PECES was the use of iPads. And yes the use of iPads most definitely promoted student learning. First graders were learning how to take care of the iPad, what the iPen was used for, and how to handle such devices responsibly. Third graders were engaged in independent reading and profiles. Fourth graders were creating presentations and movies to their classmates. Sixth graders were participating in class polls to answer math problems. Everything that I witnessed was extremely sophisticated as far as the promotion of learning and sharing goes. 2). I was particularly impressed with a cute little boy whose class we visited last, and I’d really like to kick myself for not remembering his name right now but he was soooo smart. His class was the first in the school to be in a dual language classroom where they study math and history in Spanish while studying Mandarin every Friday. His classroom uses the iPad regularly to complete assignments and assessments. He was so eloquent and confident as he shared that he was of great help to his family when he went to Mexico during the summer and helped his parents and the taxi driver understand each other.3). I already mentioned this, but what I saw the most of in relation to this class is how much the education system has changed since I was a child. Now, students are regarded and respected as the experts of their own learning (at least at PECES) I couldn’t help but notice various topics that were discussed in “The Essence of Connected Learning,” and how much in control these kids were of their own education. They really are professionals/experts of change.
Kindness can go a long way
As the last day of school before Christmas break is nearing, the students in Mrs. Santana’s English class are hurriedly turning in work so that the whole class can watch the film “2012.” For two weeks now, there have been murmurs and whispers about how the world is going to end on December 21 (the last day of school) because the Mayans predicted it so. They’ve been begging Mrs. Santana to watch the film, and she has agreed to allow them to watch it just as long as they all turn in their essays. As a Special Education Assistant, my job is to make sure Mrs. Santana is complying with the modifications stated in each student’s IEP and that the students in turn are succeeding in their general education courses. I am also completing my practicum hours with Mrs. Santana so that I can gain a credential as an English teacher. This just means that I have to work twice as hard in Mrs. Santana’s class, and I’ve tried very hard to be the best teacher and paraprofessional as I can be. And I thought everything I did in class went by unnoticed until I read Liliana Hernandez’ paper. Liliana is an IEP student who has mild retardation and who needs extra attention. She has opened up to me and confessed that she lives in a shelter with her mom and nine-year-old brother. Despite the various difficulties she encounters in life, she is extremely energetic and bright. She does, however; find it difficult to focus and to organize her thoughts into a written paper. The class was instructed to write an essay describing three characteristics that a true leader needs to have, to introduce a person who they believe has those qualities, and to support their claims with examples. I was touched when I read that Liliana argued that she believes I am a true leader because I am responsible, respectful, and hardworking. She values those characteristics in leaders because they are trustworthy traits. I was very grateful for the fact that she notices how much I help with both special ed. Students and the rest of the class, and how I give students help even when they don’t ask for it. She thinks that means I’m responsible. She said I am a kind teacher who is always smiling and being nice to students and other teachers and that she is very happy when she sees me (I just about cried at this point). She also wrote about how I’m hardworking because I do two jobs in the class, and because I help her even when I’m supposed to be eating during my lunch break and don’t send her away. I was touched when she finished her essay by saying that she is grateful for a leader like me. Liliana’s paper is filled with grammatical and spelling errors, but I don’t care. To me it was the most beautiful paper I’ve ever read because she allowed me to see myself through her eyes. And as I read her paper I was so proud of myself and didn’t seem to mind the stress of finals, because all this work is worth it if it means having the pleasure of working with all the Lilianas out there J She really made me like myself, and that’s supposed to be my job, not hers J
The day America’s Heart Broke
It was already an incredibly difficult day at San Diego High School. I kept looking over at the clock hoping the workday would soon be over. When lunch finally came around, I took out my phone, read a few words and instantly put my phone down. The only way I could keep my head up was by supporting it with my hands. I couldn’t believe this horrible blow. There were tears in my eyes. The teacher I was working with put on the news immediately and we were both horrified by what we heard. While we were having an unpleasant morning at SDHS, a 20 year old man forced himself into a Connecticut elementary school and killed 20 kids and 6 adults. Much to America’s horror the six and seven year-olds that died that day had multiple gunshots in their bodies. About a couple of days after the shootings, I read a very touching story about a special needs child, six year-old Dylan Hockley whose body was found wrapped in the arms of the body of his teacher’s aide. This broke my heart. This teacher’s aide died trying to protect her student while doing the same line of work I was doing at the time. I couldn’t help but wonder what if this crazed man would have chosen my school that day? What would I have done if it were my classroom he entered? This is scary not only as a teacher, but as a person that wants to have a family someday and still believes that schools are like second homes to our kids. Although I’m not a parent yet, I am an aunt who is very involved in the lives of her nephews. Their little faces were the first thing that I thought of when I heard the devastating news. And I cried in fear for our kids’ future, for the poor little souls who were robbed from their parents, and for the little angels who survived and will forever remember this day, poor kids to have had their innocence stripped away from them. It’s just such a terrible travesty. I don’t want to think about it anymore and yet the headlines keep haunting me, all I can do is write because it is the only thing I can take control of. My thoughts and prayers to the families and hopefully this tragedy put an end to these awful copy-cat school shootings that are occurring in our society.
On Visitors and Residents: Better late than never :)
Obviously, I was definitely a visitor at the beginning of
this course, a visitor that couldn’t wait to go back home. But now after
finishing the course, and finally have watched the video, I can honestly say
that I have found a new home. Maybe my
skills online are not as sophisticated as I’d like them to be, but at least not
I’m not afraid to explore the many possibilities and I’m not afraid to connect
with people worldwide. After participating in this class, I can now see the
difference from when I started this course and now. According to Dr. White, a
visitor is individually private and logs in and out without leaving a trace,
whereas a resident is socially visible and leaves his presence behind somehow
even when he is logged off. This is perhaps my favorite part of this video
because it best describes my growth. When I first started this course I would
use the internet for whatever purpose and then leave, or as Dr. White would put
it, I would rummage a toolbox, use it for whatever purpose, and then put the
tool back. Whereas now, I am definitely connecting with various people and
learning and teaching others at the same time, it definitely has that walk in
the park feel. I am aware that the more I learn, the more I know that there is
still so much to know and that doesn’t scare me anymore. I am looking forward
to whatever growth I demonstrate for deciding to reside in the virtual realm. On
my internet, continuum, I am at the point where I’ve come to understand that it
is not a question of “academic or technical skills but about culture and
motivation.”
On my first Ed Chat
First off I just want to show off how incredible our chat
was tonight. I was a bit disappointed at first because I was actually waiting
for #LangChat and I hadn’t realized that they are on a two week break for the
Holidays. Imagine my surprise when I logged onto to twitter and saw that they
were not going to connect. I just about flipped out because I thought I may not
turn in this assignment on time. Then I went on Google and found the following
website: http://edudemic.com/2012/09/the-top-50-education-twitter-chats-and-how-to-use-them/,
the top 50 education twitter chats (and how to use them). This amazing website
not only posted the various Ed chats, but also gave a bit of background
information on each and what time they met each week. Honestly I chose
#isedchat because it was the only one that met on Thursdays at 9pm EST,an hour
away from #LangChat, which gave me plenty of time to follow and drag it onto my
tweetdeck next to interactions. Thanks Maureen for this tip! It also gave me
time to chat with Dr. Joan McGettigan who was leading the chat. I came clean
and said it was my first Ed chat and had no idea how to get started, she
informed me about tonight’s topic and how to prepare for it in the few minutes I
had left. She also gently reminded me not to forget using #isedchat after each
comment. The topic for tonight was, “favorite tool for 2012,” which reminded me
a lot about the activity we did on Wallwisher.com where we listed our favorite
tools and apps. I heard very familiar apps like Evernote and Diigo. However,
the majority of the tools mentioned were new: Socrative, Understoodit.com,
Sproutsocial, Flipboard for IOS, Getpacket.com, and various iPad apps like Book
Creator and Explain Everything. I was so proud of myself because I said that my
favorite tool was Pinterest and a girl responded wanting to know how to use it.
I copied a tutorial link from You Tube and she favored it saying she’d look
into it after the chat. I can’t believe that I ACTUALLY TAUGHT SOMEONE
SOMETHING!! It was at that moment that I saw how far I’ve come in just four
months. I was a little nervous that I may be ignored because of the lack of
knowledge I thought I offered the chat, but it was completely the opposite. The
group of people I chatted with was happy that I was trying to expand my PLN and
I wasn’t the only novice in the chat either so all embarrassment flew out the
window. Everyone was so inviting and even offered me links to read over that
may help me in the next chat. Various chatters congratulated me on my efforts
and I even left the room with new followers, which of course made me happy. I loved
the energy in the virtual room and it actually felt a lot like the Google
conference we had as a class only I couldn’t see them or hear them. Overall, it
was a wonderful experience and I can’t wait to do it again. I captured some of
our conversations on Storify.com:
On the death of La Diva Jenni Rivera
On December 9, 2012 at approximately three in the morning, a legend died.Daughter of Mexican immigrants, Jenni Rivera was born in Long Beach California. Despite her extremely difficult life, she was the personification of strength. It is difficult to succeed in an environment in which you are constantly told that you don’t fit it. Often at times, it feels as if Mexican Americans aren’t Mexican enough to fit the Hispanic culture or American enough to fit the description either. For years we’re told that our language whether English or Spanish is not good enough. I really feel that this woman possessed both cultures with much pride. Who else can sing that oldie but goodie, “Angel baby” and turn it into a regional Banda song? She said what she felt and did what she pleased, all while maintaining her dignity. She was a devout Christian who worked hard for her kids. And despite the failed marriages, domestic violence, and extreme poverty this woman really came out on top. She sold over 15 million albums worldwide and won over millions of hearts when by inviting her fans to her house through her reality TV show, “I love Jenni.” It is difficult for a heart to get over a death like Jenni’s. On the night of December 8, just hours before her death, she performed a sold-out show in Monterrey, Mexico. She and her crew hopped on a private plane bound towards Mexico City where she was to appear at “La Voz,” Mexico’s version of “The Voice.” Unfortunately, the plane crashed and all who were aboard died (gulp) chunks of her flesh and bones were collected for DNA which proved that it really was our beloved Diva. I am particularly impressed of how much of a role technology played in my relationship with her. I never met her, but through You Tube, Television, and podcasts, I grew to love her existence and I’m very sorry to hear she’s gone. She left behind 5 heart-broken kids, two grandchildren, and millions of fans who adore her, including me. L In 2005 she wrote a song about how she would like to be remembered upon her death, this is the translation:
"I was a strong 'guerrillera'
who fought for her children;
remember that in life
your mother did not crack
with her head held high
say goodbye to her with honor"
who fought for her children;
remember that in life
your mother did not crack
with her head held high
say goodbye to her with honor"
Monday, December 10, 2012
On Visiting Paul Ecke Central Elementary School:
If the iPad is the answer; the question is: what serves as evidence that education is changing? I was born in the year 1984. I was in the 6th grade when I first used a computer, in the year 1996. I used it to type up a report on Hera, queen of the gods. I recall feeling very scared, I didn’t receive the best instructions on how to use the computer and was nervous about pressing wrong buttons or not being on task. There were only about three or four computer monitors in the classroom, and we had to type hurriedly. A couple of years later, around 1998, I was in middle school. The school allowed students to come into the computer lab during lunch to play online. I had no idea what the internet was, or that you could look stuff up, or that various games were beginning to be played online by students. I just knew that nerdy kids went into the computer labs. There were absolutely no assignments that needed to be typed so I didn’t really use computers. I loved to read R.L. Stine’s Fear street books and various other great writers at this time. The Librarian had a computer filled with tests, and I would volunteer to take these tests for points. These tests were brought up on a computer by the Librarian, I would plug in my answers, and then she would log me out. That was my only contact with a computer. That was the year that my mother purchased a cell phone. The next time I would come into any contact with a computer was in the year 2000. I joined my high school journalism class, mostly because my friends were in it. I was to write a story for our October edition. I was to write on Hotel Del Coronado’s ghost, Kate Morgan. I was so naïve that I actually thought I would have to take the bus down to the hotel and interview workers and guests and whoever could tell me more about the legend of Kate Morgan. My friends weren’t much help, and I was too embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know how to start my story. Victoria, a nerdy girl (I know I was mean) helped me. She introduced me to yahoo.com. She helped me create an email account, she helped me look up information online, and she helped me see that I can find anything I want online. And she was right! Homework was no longer as difficult after that. I began actually wanting a computer after that. I took a typing class and learned how to type faster. By the time I was in college, I was writing papers regularly in the school’s computer lab. Then my niece introduced me to MySpace, and I began logging online more often. Then in the year 2009, my grandmother gave me a laptop for my birthday because I was doing so well in school. My friends hooked me up with a Facebook account and that is how I began connecting with people online. My boyfriend bought me my first smartphone and taught me how to use Facebook through my phone and he showed me how to look for videos on YouTube. I thought I was set, until I enrolled in this class. This class introduced me to completely different virtual possibilities. So many constant changes; and these changes will continue to baffle me. But these students at Paul Ecke Central Elementary School are professionals of change. Not only are they learning how to use iPads and the various apps that they offer, but they are capable of adapting to the constant updates and changes that come with these apps. They are becoming professionals of change. They are in so much more control at age 5 than I was at age 12. They are becoming professionals of what they present and study rather than just observers or learners, they are actors and creators. The iPad is an example of how they are capable of demonstrating just how strong they are with creating change and adapting to it.
On Reaching day 60
Reaching Day 60 was both the most happiest and uncomfortable day of my life. First off I wanna say, Yes!!! I did it, its finally over and I look amazing!!! But there are other things to address. When watching the film, “Fat, Sick, and nearly dead,” Joe Cross ate a green apple when he broke his fast. I don’t really like green apples, I find them too sour; therefore I decided I’d break my fast with some watermelon, because I love watermelon. As I was cutting up my watermelon, I noticed the cupboard was slightly ajar allowing me to see a bottle of Tapatio, a very delicious Mexican hot sauce. I missed the mariachi bottle so much that I decided to pour a little over my watermelon. In the process of putting the bottle away, I noticed the tajin, which is chili powder. I decided to add some chili powder as well. Then, I saw the chamoy bottle, and I just couldn’t help myself. Normally, this would still not be enough chili to satisfy my taste buds because I can usually take lots and lots of spicy food at once. Well, at least I used to. I don’t know what happened to me during this fast, but I grew to be extremely sensitive to spice. The first few bites were heaven!!! Mmmm. Just thinking of my first bite is wonderful! Then I found myself sucking in a lot of breath, the way I have seen people who can’t take chili do. I see them sucking in air as if it would make it better, it doesn’t! I couldn’t believe that I, Ms. Three-salsas-is-not-enough-for-my-tacos was in need of water, while eating watermelon!!!! As if this wasn’t enough, I came home to find my mother, grandmother, and sister cooking up one of my favorite dishes: enmoladas. “Ay! Don’t make that face, and you better eat this food we’re preparing because it is your favorite and it is your birthday and you said today you were going to start eating.” I was not about to complain or pass on the food because it is sooo delicious and it was my Birthday after all. Big mistake!!! My stomach paid the consequences. You’ll never know what an upset stomach is until you undergo a two month juice fast and make the stupid decision to eat watermelon with chile for breakfast and enmoladas for dinner. Let’s just say I didn’t go to work or school the next day. It was awful, but I learned my lesson. Overall though, I encourage everyone to try something like this one day, becausde it feels amazing to conquer one's own weaknesses!!!
A response to Maureen Taylor’s “How to bring the magic back into the classroom”
My boyfriend took me to Disneyland for my birthday. It was a great day. I couldn’t help but remember a recent post my colleague wrote about how magical a place Disneyland is, and how sad it is that teachers don’t strive to put some of that happiness into the classroom. I looked about me and realized that the park was packed with lots and lots of people. With so many people in the park, we probably spent more time waiting in line to ride the various Disneyland attractions then in the actual rides. But we didn’t seem to mind. There were so many noisy obnoxious kids and the sun was hitting our eyes; the tiring wait should have been enough to drive us crazy, but we didn’t seem to mind the wait because we knew that once we reached the end of the line, the ride would have been worth it, even if it were short lived. I feel like education is like that, there are some of us who have the will to endure the least desirable parts of education, and because we convince ourselves to hold on, we are then able to enjoy the benefits of our perseverance. But why isn’t it like that for everyone? What are we doing as teachers that make students say, “this isn’t worth pursuing,” or “this is something that I am willing to give effort and time to.” Better yet, what is a place like Disneyland doing that makes people want to endure the least desirable conditions ever in order to enjoy a short lived adventure? For starters, they offer rides that are both thrilling and safe, rides that can be enjoyed by many people regardless of age, religion, or language. The atmosphere is thrilling to the eyes, the smells are inviting, and one knows that everything in the park has been created in detail for them to enjoy. If a high school English teacher like myself for example, were to create an inviting atmosphere for a teenager, we should probably keep in mind that the majority of teenagers don’t like school and should try to make the classroom look as much as a hang-out as possible. Perhaps add a couch, lots of cut-out magazine collages around the room ,posters of famous writers and poets (as a young girl might have of her favorite pop-star), and maybe play a little music in the background as they write on their journal (or assignments). And I know there are so many bad reviews about showing too many videos and movies to students, but what if every other Friday students were to present videos they have made themselves? If the world is changing towards a more technological one, why can’t they have a way to present their observations of the world to their peers through a movie day? And yes, there should be popcorn! Why should the classroom stay traditional when it is clearly not working? I feel like the real magic of Disneyland is that people are waiting around in line for so long because they know that when they are enjoying the ride, it is their experience and no one else’s. No one can take that moment away. No one is telling them how to enjoy it, what to look at, or what part of the ride is important to remember. Their experience is theirs alone and they leave a little better because of it. They know they are in good hands, safe hands, and they know that they will be different on their way out of the park. It is the happiest place on earth because no test or agenda determined the success of the day, but rather the meaningfulness of the experience, which is something they strive to recreate outside of Disneyland. That is what education should be like.
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