itunes university is a great tool for HIGHER LEARNING institutes. You can go to the itunes university website by clicking http://www.apple.com/education/itunesu/. When you get to this site you can click the itunes store and download audio and video text from your professors. There is some information you can download without having to be a student at that particular university. There are about 250 universities that have available information for their students.
I can see where this would be a very valuable tool for colleges. You could study anywhere anytime! But, even the itunes website states that this technology was designed for higher learning institutes. I do not know of anyone in this class that is going to be a college educator. Due to this fact and the reasons I stated in my previous post I do not see how this would pertain to elementary or secondary education majors. It is unrealistic to think that this would even be a possibility to use this technology in our public school system. The privacy laws for children would not allow any of the things we have learned this semester and frankly I would really like to learn how to complete the tasks that are going to be expected of us by Mobile Co. schools like making lesson plans, etc. All of this just does not make us any more prepared to be public school teachers.

A cultual revolution

My opinion has not changed. As wonderful as technology is children should still be taught the importance of reading and writing. They need to know how to be creative and entertain themselves when there is no access to technology ( like maybe a power outage after a hurricane). Nothing will ever replace books in my opinion or the way you can just sit down and relax and go to some far off place in a book. A little harder to do sitting in front of a computer.

ipods at Duke

Duke University's ipod program has recieved praise, awards, and criticism. The program has been active since 2004. The first year there were a small number of students and teachers who recieved ipods for aid in the teaching and learning experience.The first year was a big success. Now Duke has incorporated this technology into many of it's classes and gives undergraduate students an ipod if they are enrolled in a class requiring one. They also can be rented from the school and they provide training to the teachers and the students.
What are they using these ipods for? Well, lots of things. They use them for a information and communication source for the college; much like our school uses its internet web site and email system. Students can hear class lectures and even get lecture questions for the next days lecture. There are class exercises available as well as news program and other information sources that are related to the courses. Some instructors have even provided pictures to aid the students in lab testing. The things they have done with their ipods are amazing and I can only imagine how helpful this technology would be for the students.
I think that ipods in education is a great idea as a teaching/learning aid especially for colleges. For elementary it would be useful to communicate homework and give the students access to material related to subjects being taught or even incorporating photos. Unfortunately due to restiricted funding in Mobile County and lack of parenting in the majority of homes I do not think it is realistic to think this would be a possibility any time in the near future. Children are not being taught responsibility and their parents are not interested enough alot of the time for a student to keep up with an ipod or utilize its features. The schools in our area do not even have soap in the bathrooms half the time and the PTO provides paper and copiers so I do not see them providing ipods to their students. I think it would be wiser to spend the time and money to teach teachers how to do lesson plans and utilize the technological system that is already in place in our county.

friends forever

This is my son Colbey and his best friend Blake. They have been friends for almost 5 years. They were on their kindergarten feild trip to the zoo in Gulf Shores. They were in the same class in Kindergarten.





This is my daughter Aryn and her best friend Kinsey. They have been friends for almost 5 years also. Kinsey's brother is Blake from the picture above. The girls met when they had the same teacher in first grade. The boys had the same teacher together in Kindergarten.

mom's birthday

This picture is of my mom and kids. We were at Cici's Pizza for her birthday. She loves there cinnamon struessel desert ( youhave to request it because they do not make it any more). She can eat a whole on by herself.

Build-A-Bear Party

This is my daughter Aryn at her 9th birthday party at Build-A-Bear across the bay at the Eastern Shore Center. We had a great time! I think it is one of my favorite parties.

Colbey's bicycle

This is Colbey on his bicycle he got for his 6th birthday. This picture was taken at his pool party! Of course, that was in July and I think he has only tried riding it 2 or 3 times. I think it scares him for some reason.

Picasa

Cinderella and the Prince






Belle

Seymour Papert

Seymour Papert is recognized world wide for being one of the leading minds in technology. He has done research with legendary people like Jean Piaget. While people in the 60's thought his ideas were crazy he has created many ways for children to use technology to aid in there learning. Some of the frist computerized toys were created in his labs at MIT. He was instrumental in the creation of the LOGO program and is on the board for MaMaMedia Inc. and the LEGO Mindstorms product line, which I think is really cool because who doesn't love Legos and this is like cool futuristic legos, Wow! He is also the co-founder of the Artificial Intelligence Lab at MIT. He has also written many important articles, essays, and books. To learn more about Mr. Papert and his works click http://papert.org/ or http://web.media.mit.edu/~papert/ .

What is he doing now? Unfortunately in 2006 Mr. Papert was he was run down by a motorist in Hanoi on his way to give a speech. He suffered severe brain injuries and has had several surgeries. He has had several life threatening complications and while he is now recovering he is still hospitalized. He will require several intense and specialized therapies to recover. The amazing thing is that after all the contributiuons he has made to our society his insurance company still does not cover much of his medical expenses. There has been a fund established to help pay for his medical care so he will be able to make the best recovery possible. Minds like his don't happen every day, so I can see why the medical community would even consider not providing every opportunity to him because, like so many others, he just can't afford it. Rediculous! If you would like to learn more about his accident, recovery, and foundation just click http://www.microworlds.com/seymour-fund.html.

My picture in sepia

 

My picture in Black and white