Blog Reflection

This class was my first experience and venture into digital writing, blogs specifically. It’s difficult for me to sit down and just think of something to write about because I keep thinking of the pressure of so many people reading my work. I definitely prefer to have a prompt to help me generate ideas. This is how I would integrate into a classroom for my students. For my own classroom, I would like to have my students write a weekly blog post (at least) that would vary from having a prompt, to free write, or writing about what they learned that week/their favorite thing they learned. Students should respond to one another so they are engaged with each other, creating a closer bond inside the classroom.

The challenges I encountered were what to write about. I always second guess myself and can’t seem to generate ideas to write about that I genuinely care for. I over think what I’m writing about, instead of just allowing my thoughts to flow onto the page.  I also had some difficulty with keeping up with the due dates because it was such a foreign concept/routine for me. The success I experienced was creating a blog for the first time and pushing myself out of my comfort zone to allow the public to read. I’m hoping that after this class since I already have the blog, I will use it as an outlet for my writing. Anything is better than nothing! 

  

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist when we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso

In John Dufresne’s book, “The Lie that Tells A Truth,” (a guide to writing fiction) Picasso’s quote introduces the introduction, and I couldn’t think of a move appropriate quote. As teachers it’s important to allow students to be able to express their inner artist throughout the years, and writing is a fantastic way to do so—especially fiction.

Dufresne’s book is broken up into three parts: “the process,” “the product,” and “other matters.”

The process is referring to generating the writing before we get to the product, and to generate the writing Dufresne offers some great techniques.

·         

•      Write, just write. Take a breath and don’t think about, let your mind be free to release the words you want to put on the page.
• ·         Write about a memory that each of these words trigger: window, flowers, photograph, classroom, rain, crayon, wedding, vacation, pet, fear.
• ·         “A careful first draft is a failed first draft.” – Patricia Hampl
• ·         “Writing is exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.” – E.L. Doctorow
• ·         Close your eyes and write about where you want to be right now. Imagine yourself there and situate yourself in that place. “Look around. Listen, inhale the air. Begin to write down the details of this place…Memory is imagination” (Dufresne 67).

The product is writing the work.

·       

•            “Don’t introduce a story—jump in” (Dufresne 121).
• ·         Emergency Fiction: How to Begin ( Dufresene 129)

o   1. A story follows an active character through emotionally charged experiences which change him or her.

o   2. Put things you like in your story.

o   3. Put things which make you nervous in the story.

o   4. Create a character

o   5. Create a setting

o   6. Create a situation

o   7. Create a second character

o   8. Emotionally charge the situation

o   9. Emotionally charge the situation again

o   10.  Add a small surprise to make the world of the story as rich as the world the reader lives, while developing character and suggesting the mental state of the character

o   11. Add emphasize for what has just happened

o   12. Intensify the situation

o   13. Further intensify the situation

• ·         A Stranger Rides into Town (Dufresne 156)

o   Who are the significant strangers in your life? Think back to when they came “riding” into your life, how they came, why they stayed or why they eventually left.

Other Matters

• ·         Watch television and pick your favorite character from a series. Typically characters on a television series don’t change, but take your favorite and imagine a changing point in their life.
• ·         “A fiction writer has to read everything from Wittgenstein’s Blue and Brown Books to the backs of cereal boxes” (Dufresne 273).
• ·         “Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill. Without books the development of civilization would have been impossible. They are the engines of changes, windows on the world, ‘lighthouses’ (as a poet said) ‘erected in the sea of time.’ They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind. Books are humanity in print.” – Barbara Tuchman 

Open Post

Last week I signed up for my first LSAT on June 9^th. I don’t think I’ve processed it yet—this is the first step I’ve taken toward one of the biggest decisions in my life so far. I’m so nervous! I haven’t had a change to buy books yet, not that I have time to work on them anyway. 

It’s crazy to think I graduate in May and then turn around and study my ass off for the LAST a month later. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited, but I’m afraid reality hasn’t hit me yet of how hard it’s going to be. If anyone has any advice, please share! Anything is great J

Tech Post #2

As I stated in my previous blog post, I have been wanting to try to make a Prezi. I personally think it looks nicer and is better than using Powerpoint. I had been put under the impression that Powerpoint was easier to use, but after exploring and creating a Prezi, I have to say I like Prezi more. When creating my Prezi the layout was simple and easy to navigate to find what I needed—the layout was clean and organized, I didn't have to search long for any tool. Each individual slide can be accessed on the left hand side, and on each slide are two text boxes that are easy to use. The text boxes have everything needed, such as font and formatting, right above the text box so it can’t be missed. Above the current slide being worked on are tabs that say “Frames and Arrows,” “Insert,” and “Theme.” When the mouse is rolled over these tabs, all the tools are condensed under these tabs and didn't make me search around for the basic tools I needed. One of my favorite tools under “Insert” is that it has a specific way for you to add YouTube videos: you click over “Insert” and then “YouTube video” and a box pops up to add the hyperlink. Once the hyperlink is entered, the actually video is transferred onto the site without having to leave the Prezi/slide.  Another aspect that I thought was interesting is a slide can be inserted into another slide. For example, on my slide 4, I added slide 5 into it, so that when I transition out of what was intended for slide 4, it zooms out and then back into the same slide, but to the content for slide 5. I like this idea because it holds students attention with the movement.

Overall, I’m really glad I tried this out because I had been weary, thinking it was going to be difficult. I like it so much more than Powerpoint and will be sticking to it! It’s a refreshing means to give information to the students without using the same program. I personally think Prezi also holds the student’s attention better because it’s cleaner, and it’s transitions will have students focus more because of the zoom in/out feature. The slides are meant for less information (in my opinion), so this may also help teachers by putting not an overwhelming amount of material on one slide. Also, it’s ease of use it better than Powerpoint with more updated resources, and I believe presents material better.

http://prezi.com/a6qblgrby5pv/present/?auth_key=lm52bok&follow=4gc8of0ekbj3

Tech Post #1

Tech Post #1

1.       In today’s world it’s inevitable to avoid technology—it has almost become necessary for most people’s everyday lives.  This video demonstrates that it’s necessary for teachers to be responsible for being updated on the most recent technology and incorporating into their classrooms. The way the video was portrayed demonstrated that what the workers were doing wasn’t distracting their customers—teachers bringing technology in the classroom needs to be done the same way.

2.       In relation to the list, I am a visitor to some and a stranger to most! I mostly use my laptop for school and researching for my school work (and of course, Facebook).

3.        (1) UStream definitely seems like an awesome tool! If I had a page that all of the students accessed (like our Wiggio) I would utilize this tool to address something I may have forgotten for students in class or to demonstrate how to do something via video, which is most of the time easier than explaining in writing. (2) I was surprised to find that when I clicked the link for Scribd that I already had an account! Taking a further  look into the site, it would seem like a great way to have students share resources (when appropriate) and for me to attach assignments students may do on their own computer and resubmit (saving paper). I also like the flow of the website—it seems very easy to maneuver. (3)Today’s Meet seems like an interesting concept that I would like to explore further. I like the idea of having it a private environment where students may be able to share or express their feelings or questions regarding an assignment or classroom discussion that was had in class. Since some students are shy, this may prompt them to be more open in voicing their opinion or asking a question.

4.       To keep learning about teaching after I leave school, I would find it very important to have acquaintances that are also involved in teaching to create a network with to motivate each other to keep up-to-date with teaching. One of the easiest ways to create—or join—a network would have to be more than likely virtual. Of course there are going to be teachers at the school you’re teaching at, but it’s important to extend outside of that circle because there is so much to learn from so many different professionals. Teachers seem to be a strong community that wants to share and discuss with so many resources available! It’s almost too easy.

5.       I loved seeing that Goodreads, Wordle, Prezi, and Flashcard Exchange were on the list! I’ve had to use Goodreads as a student to write reviews on books (writing virtually) that we’ve written in class, so I love the incorporation of it. It also creates a community of reading and writing. Wordle (one of my favorites too!) is a great tool for students to see how frequently they use the same word and can really help them become more aware of their writing! The website is online so the students are forced to write virtually, and it gives them opportunity to fix it virtually.  Prezi is also a great tool for students because it’s similar to a powerpoint, but more updated with technology is more fun. Of course, with anything technology based it’s easier for students to get distracted, and these are public domains, but it’s vital for students to be aware of the resources that will ultimately benefit them the most.

6.       I was shocked that twitter was the number one things teachers are using the most—I barely use it! Although, it seems the most popular things teachers are using are related to having the students on one main site that allows them to access and upload documents either to or from the teacher. The ones I was the most surprised and impressed about were more related to blogging and social media. These are more difficult for me to find the usage in them because they weren’t involved in my education.

7.       Understanding how a student learns reminds the teacher what to focus on to still implement in their teaching while using technology instead of getting distracted by it. Using technology shouldn’t change the material, but change how the students are learning it so it can better fit their needs to they can create. For example, showing the students a video and discussing it may help them remember instead of reading the information from a text book.

8.       The tools I already use aren’t very expansive in comparison to what has been listed and discussed. My issue isn’t using the technology—it’s how to use that technology to reach students. One of the things I really want to master is how to use a Prezi: one of my professors uses it and I love it! It flows nicely and holds the audience’s attention because of the way it’s set up and transitioned. I would like to learn more about blogging (which we’re currently using) and which website would be the best as a home base for students. 

My name is Kelly and I graduate this May. I've changed my mind in the past month, and instead of teaching I've decided to take on law school. I can't wait for the challenges ahead and am looking forward to everything in the future. In the meantime, I work at my apartment complex as a leasing agent and enjoy every second of it because I constantly get to interact with people. With the free time I do have, I just try to be with my friends and do what makes me happy.