Tomorrow is the last day :(

I can't believe that tomorrow is the last day of this class, granted I still have 4 weeks of class left. But these last two weeks just flew by, I can barely remember when I didn't want to come (yea, I still have a hard time getting out of bed but I know that coming to school isn't so horrible anymore.) Anyway, just wanted to say a quick thanks for everything to everyone, class has been fun and I have learned alot!! See you all tomorrow one more time (unless you are taking the remainder of the classes, then I will see you for another 4 weeks!!)

Trying to Get Points Back!

Alright, in a previous blog I have provided the web sites of two virtual tours that might be helpful or useful in a classroom, but I never explained why I like them or how I might use them in my teaching. I like the first one, the tour of the Globe Theatre in London because there is a large possibility that my students have never seen the Globe Theatre. I think that it is very helpful to actually see the stage where Shakespeare's plays were performed. How would the size of the stage, the shape, the interaction with the audience influence his plays, if they were at all influenced by the stage? Also, what would it have been like to see a play at the Globe during Shakespeares day? How is it different than today? These are all things that need to be considered when reading his plays and I think that seeing the Theatre can only help and enhance the students understanding of the material. The second tour that I found would help along the same lines. They provide a visual of something that the students would not otherwise get to see. Maybe it would help them understand the story, the setting, the people involved. It would enhance their understanding of the reading. They could also create their own tour of their favorite book or something like that. I think that these tours are a great resource, especially when they are used to enhance the learning.

Monday, June 27

Well, class today once again confirmed my opinion that I am glad to be taking this class. Using Dreamweaver is going to be so beneficial in the future, for making websites and being able to manage and organize them (something that we all know that I like to do!) Alright, on to my topic of research. I checked out some more webpages, the resources that Helen gave me in my comments on my last blog. If anyone is interested in learning more than what I am going to summarize here, I would highly suggest that you check those out. I have learned a few things about virtual high schools. There are some benefits that I now understand associated with them. For example, if a student is sick and can't be in a classroom, if they have trouble learning in a traditional setting, and if their current high school does not offer the classes that they want to take. I can see the benefits of virtual high schools and I think that they are great for some purposes. But I am afraid that students are going to start looking at them as an easy diploma, the painless way to graduate from high school. I also think that high school is an experience. It is so much more than what you learn in classes, it is sports and dances and clubs and getting along with other people and learning about yourself and accepting other's differences. I am scared that virtual high schools would take that away from students. We will have to see what happens in the future, I know that high schools will not be completely exchaged for these virtual high schools, but it will be interesting to see what kind of a trend they take.
Only 3 days left of class, time sure flies!!!
One more thing, I just learned that the Supreme Court ruled that if a developer wants your private property to develop, by law they can have it. What is with that? Maybe I don't completely understand, but I know that if they tried to take my parents house (which they built themselves over 20 years ago and where my childhood exists) that would not sit right with me. Who knows. Alright, I am going to stop now because you don't want me to get started about this wonderful country of ours (but, after reading the book that I am now, I do realize how lucky I am). Well, time to go and enjoy spending time with my family at our family home!!

Thursday, June 23

Class today was very interesting. I am glad that we got to watch everyone's lesson, rather than just the people that are in our group. I think that today helped me find the middle ground when it comes to using PowerPoint, I know that last night I had to exercise extreme self-control when making my presentation to not use all the fancy things that I know how to do. But, I might have exercised too much self-control and limited the ways in which I could have been fancier and still effective. Oh well, that is why I am here right, to learn how to do this stuff well.
About my research topic, I have done some more reading. There is some information available on WebCrossing, under Julia Williams. So far, I have still not found any websites where students can completely not be in high school, I have only found online schools that contribute to what students are already taking. One such site that I found is http://www.northernstaronline.org/home.htm. I also read somewhere that the teachers, for this website especially, are all licensed in Minnesota and that they are volunteering, meaning that they are not getting paid for all of the extra work that they are doing to teach these online classes. That is something that I will have to look into more. This stuff is really interesting, though, because someday I might asked to teach an online class. Or some of my students might be in online classes. Things sure are changing!

Wednesday, June 22

I really enjoyed class today. I liked role playing, I thought that it was a nice way to interact with everyone and have some fun, I sure laughed alot. I like how comfortable the class is, everyone has so much to offer. I will admit that it is hard to sit in a room and concentrate when the sun is shining outside, but I am glad that I am here.
For my research topic, I started looking at some sites today, it was overwhelming. There is so much information out there about online high schools, I had no idea. I am starting to think that I am going to have to focus my topic alittle more because I will go crazy with information overkill. So, I think that I specifically want to look into full time online schools, where students are no longer learning in a classroom at all. We will see where this sends me and my findings! See you all in class tomorrow!! Now stop reading this and enjoy the nice weather, before it starts to rain again!! I know that I am going to. You are still reading, go, now!! (Just kidding, but I do hope that everyone does have a chance to enjoy the sun while it is here!)
Just one more thing (even though you should be gone) my new favorite quote "Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around!!" (it's from Vanilla Sky!)

My Research Topic

The area in which I would like to learn more about is what Kyle was talking about the first day of class, high school seniors leaving school to finish online. I think that this is something that is going to affect all of us that want to be teachers. This is the first time that I have heard about this and I am very curious to learn more. I especially want to know what they think will happen in the future with this. I have not started researching that, I will tomorrow. You all can look forward to reading about it then! Have a good night!

Virtual Tour

I found a few virtual tours that pertain to my areas of study, which is secondary English. One idea that I had was a tour of the Globe Theatre in London, which can be found at http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/navigation/frameset.htm. Another idea is to take virtual tours of areas that you are reading about, one such example is the Plymouth Plantation. This tour can be found at http://www.janaedwards.com/AmericanLit.html. These are just a few ways in which virtual tours can some day be used in a classroom.

My First Day of Class

When my alarm went off this morning, I regretted my decision to take summer classes in order to complete the certificate. I considered every excuse out there as to why I could not take this class after all, some such examples are: my alarm didn't work and I forgot to get up, everyday this summer; my car got rained in this morning; I don't know what I was thinking when I signed up for this and plead momentary insanity; and then I considered playing dead, all summer long (just as long as my coffin was a lawn chair on the deck with cold drinks and plenty of sunscreen). But, then knowing that I would be disappointed in myself for not coming today, I crawled out of bed, drove to school, and am so thankful that I did. I am once again excited to be here. For awhile, I doubted my decision to take these summer classes, thinking that I really won't need them and that they will just be a waste of time and money. But after today, I am so glad that I stuck with my original decision. I know that these classes, I think that this one more than the others, is going to help me in the classroom some day. Outside of this certificate, I would have no other experience or training in technology of any kind, especially on how to use it in my classroom. I know that being here is going to be so beneficial to me. I love the atmosphere of the classroom, it is laid back and I feel like I am respected and like I have something to offer to the class. I really love the fact that there are two teachers in the class as well, I think that they are going to be a big addition with so much knowledge to share with all of us. So, even though I had a rough morning and considered not coming, I am so very glad that I did. Even though alot of hours of typing, computer screens, frusteration and determination are ahead of me, I think that this might be the most beneficial thing that I am doing for myself and my career at this point. Technology is something that is always going to be there, and while at times I would rather run the other way and pretend that it doesn't exist, I figure that maybe if I understand it and how to use it I will like it alot better. Instead of hiding from it, I am going to confront that fear and learn as much as I can about it, and I am excited because I think that this class is going to help me do that. So, to make a run on paragraph short, I really enjoyed the first day and I am happy to be here.