Well, believe it or not, the semester is drawing to a close. Students across campus are busy studying, writing papers, and procrastinating about studying and writing papers. I am one of these students; I have so much to do, but for some reason I'm not getting much done!
I've really enjoyed getting to know some of you. I'm sure we will see each other around the COE building often! We finally made it! Good luck with finals and have a Merry Christmas!
~ Crystal Powell
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
What I've Learned...
I really can't believe my first semester at South is almost over! As a transfer student, the past few months have been fun, stressful, and sometimes downright mind-boggling. But overall, I've really learned a lot in this class.
When I walked in the computer lab the first week of school, I had no idea what a blog was. Now, I'm telling my family all about it and answering their questions. I admit that sometimes the blog assignments were irritating, especially when I didn't find a podcast interesting or I was stressing over another class. However, I feel that this course has served me well. I've made many new friends and have learned new ways to use new technology in my everyday life as well as how I may be able to use it in my career.
One of the highlights of the course was learning about the technology available for the deaf and blind. I never considered the possibility that I may have a student in my class with this type of disability. I now know the resources that are available and will be able to help accommodate any student that needs assistance.
Throughout this semester, I have learned so many new things that will help me in my teaching career. I feel it is very important for aspiring teachers to be aware of new technologies and also master basic skills. This course had given me all of these things.
When I walked in the computer lab the first week of school, I had no idea what a blog was. Now, I'm telling my family all about it and answering their questions. I admit that sometimes the blog assignments were irritating, especially when I didn't find a podcast interesting or I was stressing over another class. However, I feel that this course has served me well. I've made many new friends and have learned new ways to use new technology in my everyday life as well as how I may be able to use it in my career.
One of the highlights of the course was learning about the technology available for the deaf and blind. I never considered the possibility that I may have a student in my class with this type of disability. I now know the resources that are available and will be able to help accommodate any student that needs assistance.
Throughout this semester, I have learned so many new things that will help me in my teaching career. I feel it is very important for aspiring teachers to be aware of new technologies and also master basic skills. This course had given me all of these things.
ACCESS Lab - Satsuma High School
On November 17, Keller, Joye, and I visited Satsuma High School in Satsuma, AL. When we arrived, we were first greeted by the large statue of their alligator mascot and then by Ms. Jennifer Phillips. Ms. Phillips serves as a facilitator for Satsuma High's ACCESS lab. Ms. Phillips was more than happy to give us a tour of the lab as well as tell us all about the work she and her students do everyday.
Ms. Phillips informed us that she currently had 18 students total enrolled in online courses. These students were taking a number of courses including Creative Writing, Latin, German, English 12 and Environmental Science. There was even a student who was enrolled in three courses at the same time. At the time of our observation, the courses that the students were taken were strictly online. The distance learning teacher posted assignments for the students to complete. Students are also responsible for completing modules and posting them in the online dropbox. Tests and quizzes are given and students are allotted 1 1/2 hours to complete them. Tests and quizzes must be completed at school, but some assignments can be done at home.
Ms. Phillips also told us about the changes Satsuma High would see in regards to the ACCESS program. Starting next fall, advanced courses will be offered and all freshman students will be required to take at least one ACCESS course before graduation. She also gave us insight on student accomplishments. Ms. Phillips felt that the majority of her students were doing well so far. She pointed out that students put in the same amount of effort into the ACCESS courses as they did their regular courses. If a student does not complete all of the necessary modules and and assignments, the student may be expelled from the program.One topic that we were very curious about was the hiring of teachers and facilitators. We learned that there are no prerequisites for being a facilitator. Most facilitators are librarians and teacher aides. Teachers who are interested in teaching an ACCESS course are hired by ACCESS and earn $300 per student. Both facilitators and teachers receive training upon hiring in order to become familiarized with the equipment used. Teachers are allowed to fix grades in the ACCESS system as needed. As a facilitator, Ms. Phillips is responsible for ensuring that the grades given through ACCESS are uploaded to Satsuma High's STI system.
I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Satsuma High's ACCESS lab. Ms. Phillips was a wonderful tour guide and gave us some much needed knowledge on how the lab and online courses really work. It was also fun to see the high school students working on their assignments for various classes. They seemed to enjoy working independently and learning new topics such as Latin and German. I hope to see more high schools incorporate this technology into their curriculum.
Electronic Interaction - Cameroon, Africa
After a disastrous situation with my previous contact, I was blessed to meet an elementary teacher from Cameroon, Africa named Katie Westra. She is an American teaching overseas and was kind enough to answer a few questions via Facebook messaging. Here are the questions I asked her and her responses.
Thank you so much for chatting with me on such short notice. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
"I grew up in Western Michigan (lived there my entire life until I graduated college and moved thousands of miles away), but I currently live in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Africa. That is a country on the West coast of Africa, just south of Nigeria. I first came over here on a mission trip through my university. I really enjoyed it and wanted to come back, so I ended up doing half my student teaching at a school here. On my last day, the director of the school offered me a job. I eventually accepted and here I am three years later, still here and loving it. I never would have thought this was the plan God had for me, but it sure has been much more than I could have ever asked for or imagined! :) I currently teach Pre-Kindergarten 4 (for the 4 year olds) at the American School of Yaoundé. For the previous two years, I taught 1st grade. When I was student teaching, I taught 3rd grade and Kindergarten. I teach in a self-contained classroom, so I teach all the major subjects (Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies), the students also have specials (French-5 days a week, and PE, IT, Art, Library, Music -1 day a week)."
As a teacher, what's your opinion on the importance of technology/blogging in the classroom?
"My opinion on the importance of technology/blogging in the elementary classroom is a relatively naïve one. I think it could be a great tool if used properly. It is something that I would love to learn how to do and begin using in my classroom. The idea of being able to have a blog that parents and students are able to access and know all about what is going on in the classroom is ingenious. I would enjoy learning how to create an interactive blog where parents especially could log on and find out what their child is doing and see pictures and get updates instantly. I unfortunately do not know how to go about doing that yet, and am not sure how useful it would be to my student’s parents since Internet is at times a precious commodity."
"Technology in general is a great resource to have in the classroom. I constantly use my computer to store my lesson plans, do curriculum maps, grade/attendance books, report cards, progress reports, etc. If I was in the upper elementary, I would probably even do PowerPoint presentations and use things like YouTube and other online resources and games to enhance my students understanding of the different concepts and skills that we were learning. It is a bit more difficult to use the computer and other technologies at such a young age with my students. Since I teach in Africa (not to stereotype) but where I live students do not necessarily have access to all of the technologies and computer games that other students do, especially those in the US. When I took my class to the computer lab at the beginning of the year for their first IT class, it was for many of them the first time they had the opportunity to use a computer (many had seen one, but not many had used one or even knew how to use the mouse, etc.). It was a bit shocking for me. I had wrongly assumed that like many students in the US, they had already learned how to do many things on the computer. There are many great online resources out there, as long as a school/teacher has the technology available to them and their students to use it. I love surfing the Internet and seeing what new educational sites there are out there that I can some how incorporate into my lessons. It is important to note that a lot of what a teacher is able to do depends upon what resources are available to them. Up until last year, our school did not have enough computers to be able to have more than one class in the computer lab at a time, because of this, I could not take my students to the computer lab at any other time than was their assigned time for IT classes."
How has blogging (or technology in the classroom) impacted your students?
"Unfortunately I have not been able to use blogging in my classroom, so I can not comment on that. I do know of a colleague of mine who has begun using it as a way to keep his students and parents apprised of their current grades, that way here are no surprises come report card/progress report time, and as of now, I have only heard good things about how parents enjoy having access to it when ever they need it, as well as my colleague enjoying not having to deal with any “blind-sided” parents or students.
The use of other technologies in my classroom has been a great advantage to my students, not only do they have what knowledge I personally possess on a subject, but because of technology and the Internet, I can literally get information from around the world in just a few clicks. I can also get ideas to use in the classroom. When I was teaching first grade we were pen-pals with a class in Canada, and they really enjoyed getting to know those students as well as being able to broaden their horizons and see that kids in other countries around the world are learning about the same things that they were."
It was a great experience talking to Ms. Westra. I was very interested to see how she is incorporating up and coming technologies in her classroom in Africa. She definitely inspired me and has renewed my interest in teaching internationally. I love how Ms. Westra uses the internet to bring the world to her students as well as get new ideas for her classroom. Like her international students, it is quite possible that I may encounter students who are not familiar with computers and it will be my job to develop activities that are sensitive to this. I will keep in mind many of the points Ms. Westra made and one day incorporate them into my classroom.
Thank you so much for chatting with me on such short notice. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
"I grew up in Western Michigan (lived there my entire life until I graduated college and moved thousands of miles away), but I currently live in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Africa. That is a country on the West coast of Africa, just south of Nigeria. I first came over here on a mission trip through my university. I really enjoyed it and wanted to come back, so I ended up doing half my student teaching at a school here. On my last day, the director of the school offered me a job. I eventually accepted and here I am three years later, still here and loving it. I never would have thought this was the plan God had for me, but it sure has been much more than I could have ever asked for or imagined! :) I currently teach Pre-Kindergarten 4 (for the 4 year olds) at the American School of Yaoundé. For the previous two years, I taught 1st grade. When I was student teaching, I taught 3rd grade and Kindergarten. I teach in a self-contained classroom, so I teach all the major subjects (Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies), the students also have specials (French-5 days a week, and PE, IT, Art, Library, Music -1 day a week)."
As a teacher, what's your opinion on the importance of technology/blogging in the classroom?
"My opinion on the importance of technology/blogging in the elementary classroom is a relatively naïve one. I think it could be a great tool if used properly. It is something that I would love to learn how to do and begin using in my classroom. The idea of being able to have a blog that parents and students are able to access and know all about what is going on in the classroom is ingenious. I would enjoy learning how to create an interactive blog where parents especially could log on and find out what their child is doing and see pictures and get updates instantly. I unfortunately do not know how to go about doing that yet, and am not sure how useful it would be to my student’s parents since Internet is at times a precious commodity."
"Technology in general is a great resource to have in the classroom. I constantly use my computer to store my lesson plans, do curriculum maps, grade/attendance books, report cards, progress reports, etc. If I was in the upper elementary, I would probably even do PowerPoint presentations and use things like YouTube and other online resources and games to enhance my students understanding of the different concepts and skills that we were learning. It is a bit more difficult to use the computer and other technologies at such a young age with my students. Since I teach in Africa (not to stereotype) but where I live students do not necessarily have access to all of the technologies and computer games that other students do, especially those in the US. When I took my class to the computer lab at the beginning of the year for their first IT class, it was for many of them the first time they had the opportunity to use a computer (many had seen one, but not many had used one or even knew how to use the mouse, etc.). It was a bit shocking for me. I had wrongly assumed that like many students in the US, they had already learned how to do many things on the computer. There are many great online resources out there, as long as a school/teacher has the technology available to them and their students to use it. I love surfing the Internet and seeing what new educational sites there are out there that I can some how incorporate into my lessons. It is important to note that a lot of what a teacher is able to do depends upon what resources are available to them. Up until last year, our school did not have enough computers to be able to have more than one class in the computer lab at a time, because of this, I could not take my students to the computer lab at any other time than was their assigned time for IT classes."
How has blogging (or technology in the classroom) impacted your students?
"Unfortunately I have not been able to use blogging in my classroom, so I can not comment on that. I do know of a colleague of mine who has begun using it as a way to keep his students and parents apprised of their current grades, that way here are no surprises come report card/progress report time, and as of now, I have only heard good things about how parents enjoy having access to it when ever they need it, as well as my colleague enjoying not having to deal with any “blind-sided” parents or students.
The use of other technologies in my classroom has been a great advantage to my students, not only do they have what knowledge I personally possess on a subject, but because of technology and the Internet, I can literally get information from around the world in just a few clicks. I can also get ideas to use in the classroom. When I was teaching first grade we were pen-pals with a class in Canada, and they really enjoyed getting to know those students as well as being able to broaden their horizons and see that kids in other countries around the world are learning about the same things that they were."
It was a great experience talking to Ms. Westra. I was very interested to see how she is incorporating up and coming technologies in her classroom in Africa. She definitely inspired me and has renewed my interest in teaching internationally. I love how Ms. Westra uses the internet to bring the world to her students as well as get new ideas for her classroom. Like her international students, it is quite possible that I may encounter students who are not familiar with computers and it will be my job to develop activities that are sensitive to this. I will keep in mind many of the points Ms. Westra made and one day incorporate them into my classroom.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Blogs in the Classroom
I chose to read Keller Leathers' EDM 310 blog. I had quite a few classes with Keller this semester and have gotten to know her pretty well. We always get on facebook and help each other with tough homework assignments. I have come to find that Keller and I have much more in common than I would have ever imagined. One characteristic that Keller and I share is that before this course, we had never even heard of blogging. I unknowing kept up a blog in high school on the website Xanga. I did not see the purpose for writing about myself, so I soon deleted the account.
I believe that blogging can be a valuable teaching tool in the classroom. Not only do blogs allow students to become more familiar with new technology, but blogging also help students develop their writing skills. Blogging gives students to opportunity to express their ideas in writing to their classmates as well as other classrooms around the world. With a little networking on the teacher's end, pen pals could be arranged and lifelong friendships could possibly be developed.
On the other hand, blogging may not be the best technological resource for teachers. Blogging requires the availability of a computer with internet access and it is very likely that not every student will have this available. Time in the school computer lab could be scheduled, but the administration may not approve of academic learning time being "wasted" on internet blogging. Also, the issue of internet safety is a factor. School networks have safeguards to protect the students, but if a student does blogging outside of the classroom, there is no guarantee that the same safeguards will be available. For some classrooms, blogging is simply not an option.
Personally, I think that blogging can be a fun and educational experience for students. I feel that teachers can find many creative ways to positively incorporate blogging into the curriculum. However, I think that blogging is not the best option for younger children. Since I will be teaching students in grades K-6, I don't see myself using blogs at this time. I will not completely rule out the possibility, but it would take much more research to ensure that this form of technology is the best thing for my future students. Overall, I think blogging is fun and can open many doors for students of a more mature age group.
I believe that blogging can be a valuable teaching tool in the classroom. Not only do blogs allow students to become more familiar with new technology, but blogging also help students develop their writing skills. Blogging gives students to opportunity to express their ideas in writing to their classmates as well as other classrooms around the world. With a little networking on the teacher's end, pen pals could be arranged and lifelong friendships could possibly be developed.
On the other hand, blogging may not be the best technological resource for teachers. Blogging requires the availability of a computer with internet access and it is very likely that not every student will have this available. Time in the school computer lab could be scheduled, but the administration may not approve of academic learning time being "wasted" on internet blogging. Also, the issue of internet safety is a factor. School networks have safeguards to protect the students, but if a student does blogging outside of the classroom, there is no guarantee that the same safeguards will be available. For some classrooms, blogging is simply not an option.
Personally, I think that blogging can be a fun and educational experience for students. I feel that teachers can find many creative ways to positively incorporate blogging into the curriculum. However, I think that blogging is not the best option for younger children. Since I will be teaching students in grades K-6, I don't see myself using blogs at this time. I will not completely rule out the possibility, but it would take much more research to ensure that this form of technology is the best thing for my future students. Overall, I think blogging is fun and can open many doors for students of a more mature age group.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Duke University -- Center for Documentary Studies
"Broken" **Viewer Discretion Advised**
The short film "Broken" is a HIV educational film from South Africa. The film tells the story of a girl who is raped by her father. When she confronts her mother about her attack, she is labeled a liar and is forced to suffer through her torment alone. The intention of the film is to inform the public on the horrors and abuse that many children in Africa suffer. What is even more tragic is that these incidences play a role in the AIDS epidemic. The video is very hard to watch, but the message is one that must be spread to the world. By showing videos like this one, the government and other world leaders will be pressured to do more to stop this type of behavior from happening to other children.
"The South in Black & White"
This podcast discussed how the history of racism in incorporated into literature and other arts. Duke University offers a course called "The South in Black & White" which explores the issue or race in the South and its influence on the literary world. The goal of the class is to encourage discussions on race in the present day and how it affects the nation as a whole. The class will also have plays and musical presentations that represent the southern culture. The Duke Lacrosse incident was mentioned many times and was viewed as an opportunity to to start discussions about race and educate people from every demographic.
Duke University Center for Documentary Studies (iTunes) -- Click Here
The short film "Broken" is a HIV educational film from South Africa. The film tells the story of a girl who is raped by her father. When she confronts her mother about her attack, she is labeled a liar and is forced to suffer through her torment alone. The intention of the film is to inform the public on the horrors and abuse that many children in Africa suffer. What is even more tragic is that these incidences play a role in the AIDS epidemic. The video is very hard to watch, but the message is one that must be spread to the world. By showing videos like this one, the government and other world leaders will be pressured to do more to stop this type of behavior from happening to other children.
"The South in Black & White"
This podcast discussed how the history of racism in incorporated into literature and other arts. Duke University offers a course called "The South in Black & White" which explores the issue or race in the South and its influence on the literary world. The goal of the class is to encourage discussions on race in the present day and how it affects the nation as a whole. The class will also have plays and musical presentations that represent the southern culture. The Duke Lacrosse incident was mentioned many times and was viewed as an opportunity to to start discussions about race and educate people from every demographic.
Duke University Center for Documentary Studies (iTunes) -- Click Here
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
EDM310 Podcasts
The first podcast I listened to was Susan Smith, Bridget Thompson-Hall, and Angela Minish. They discussed the ACCESS program and it's benefits to high school students. Bridget was the first speaker and did very well. She seemed to stumble over some of her words, but her voice was clear and it was easy for me to understand her. Angela spoke next and also spoke very clearly. However, I felt that she covered her information too quickly, which made it difficult for me to keep up and fully comprehend what she was saying. Susan was the final speaker and I found it somewhat hard to hear her. There wasn't much inflection in her voice and I feel her performance would have been enhanced by putting more personality into her speech. All three did a good job of feeding off of each other and asking questions and adding comments.
The second podcast I listened to was by Rachael Beaty, Keller Leathers, and Joye Wiggins. Joye spoke first and she was somewhat hard to hear. She has a very soft voice, and I feel that she should have been closer to the microphone. Keller was very talkative and used a more conversational style in her speaking. Rachael had a very clear voice, but she used the word "um" multiple times during her presentation. Overall, all three speakers did a good job and made the discussion seem more like a conversation.
The third podcast I listened to was by Ashley Corley, Brooke Busby, and Kimberly Pierce. Kimberly was easy to hear and understand, but it seemed that she was mostly reading her speech. I found it somewhat hard to hear Ashley. I think this has more to do with her natural voice tone more than nervousness. Brooke made her speech seem more conversational, but sometimes stumbled over words. She did a good job of incorporating her experience as a parent into the conversation.
The podcast I personally participated in was not uploaded to iTunes at the time I made this post. However, I do know that I personally needed to speak louder and calm my voice. It was very easy to hear my nervousness. I also needed to add more detail to my main points. Since I was not able to hear the podcast, I'm unable to give an accurate observation on Kelsey's performance.
The second podcast I listened to was by Rachael Beaty, Keller Leathers, and Joye Wiggins. Joye spoke first and she was somewhat hard to hear. She has a very soft voice, and I feel that she should have been closer to the microphone. Keller was very talkative and used a more conversational style in her speaking. Rachael had a very clear voice, but she used the word "um" multiple times during her presentation. Overall, all three speakers did a good job and made the discussion seem more like a conversation.
The third podcast I listened to was by Ashley Corley, Brooke Busby, and Kimberly Pierce. Kimberly was easy to hear and understand, but it seemed that she was mostly reading her speech. I found it somewhat hard to hear Ashley. I think this has more to do with her natural voice tone more than nervousness. Brooke made her speech seem more conversational, but sometimes stumbled over words. She did a good job of incorporating her experience as a parent into the conversation.
The podcast I personally participated in was not uploaded to iTunes at the time I made this post. However, I do know that I personally needed to speak louder and calm my voice. It was very easy to hear my nervousness. I also needed to add more detail to my main points. Since I was not able to hear the podcast, I'm unable to give an accurate observation on Kelsey's performance.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Mathematics with Technology
These podcasts were produced by Judy Chandler who is a mathematics teacher and technology integration specialist for the Maine Learning Technology Initiative. In the first podcast, Mrs. Chandler discusses the some of the reasons teachers resist incorporating technology into their classrooms. Many teachers feel that they have no time to learn new technology or develop ways to include it in their lesson plans. They feel that their students are for the most part successful and that they are ok, so no changes are needed. However, many students fall behind and could benefit from having technology-based lessons. Technology can help enhance a student's learning and provide a teacher with alternative ways to demonstrate learning.
In the podcast "Thinking Mathematically," Mrs. Chandler discusses the importance of encouraging students to think in mathematical terms. Traditionally, students learn math lesson by lesson with the assistance of a textbook. Some students are unable to connect and fall behind, while others succeed by memorizing the procedures and then forgetting them. Mrs. Chandler stresses that students need to be engaged by being encouraged to think mathematically. It is important that teachers ask questions that engage this type of thinking. This can be achieved by incorporating visual models and real-world experiences. This allows students to explore, connect ideas, argue, prove, model and reflect. Teachers should ask questions such as "Why?" and "How do we know this?". This brings up questions and ideas that the students may have overlooked.
These podcasts can be very useful to me as a future teacher. I feel that when it comes to mathematics, many teachers feel that they only effective way to teach concepts is to go through the textbook. There are many computer programs and other technology that can assist teachers in creating lessons that engage students and help make the material interesting and easier to visualize. Mathematics is a very important subject and it is unfortunate that so many students simply memorize the algorithms for a test and then forget it. The concepts found in math can be applied to many real world experiences and it is important for students to fully understand and appreciate these ideas.
In the podcast "Thinking Mathematically," Mrs. Chandler discusses the importance of encouraging students to think in mathematical terms. Traditionally, students learn math lesson by lesson with the assistance of a textbook. Some students are unable to connect and fall behind, while others succeed by memorizing the procedures and then forgetting them. Mrs. Chandler stresses that students need to be engaged by being encouraged to think mathematically. It is important that teachers ask questions that engage this type of thinking. This can be achieved by incorporating visual models and real-world experiences. This allows students to explore, connect ideas, argue, prove, model and reflect. Teachers should ask questions such as "Why?" and "How do we know this?". This brings up questions and ideas that the students may have overlooked.
These podcasts can be very useful to me as a future teacher. I feel that when it comes to mathematics, many teachers feel that they only effective way to teach concepts is to go through the textbook. There are many computer programs and other technology that can assist teachers in creating lessons that engage students and help make the material interesting and easier to visualize. Mathematics is a very important subject and it is unfortunate that so many students simply memorize the algorithms for a test and then forget it. The concepts found in math can be applied to many real world experiences and it is important for students to fully understand and appreciate these ideas.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
"Growth" vs. "Fixed" Minds
In the video podcast ""Growth" vs. "Fixed" Minds," Carol Dwech discusses the two mindsets held by students. These two mindsets are growth and fixed. The student with a fixed mindset believes that basic intelligence is a fixed trade. Before attempting an assignment, the student is overly worried about if he/she will look smart compared to other students. These students will also choose activities based solely on if their intelligence will be shown. The second mindset, growth, involves increasing a student's intellectual skill and applying it to their studies. These students believe that intelligence is something that is developed through studing, passion, and education.
Dwech conducted an experiment where a group of students attended an eight session workshop. Half of the students were sent to the workshop that discussed study skills and growth while the other half were sent to a workshop that only covered study skills. The students who attended the first workshop learned that the brain is a muscle that needs to be strengthened and also that they ccan sharpen their skills by practicing. The students in the second group learned about study skills but were not motivated to put the skills they learned into action. The students who learned both growth and study skills saw a rebound in grades, while the others students' grades continued to decline. The teachers of these students could easily pick out the students that attended the growth workshops and those who did not. This experiment was also used to determine if the growth mindset could influence the effectiveness of race car drivers.
I feel that this podcast challenges me to actively motivate my students when I am in the classroom. Many teachers simply require that students memorize the material taught and do not stress the importance of application and critical thinking. This will ultimately help the student increase their intelligence and develop a desire to build on their newly acquired knowledge and skills.
Dwech conducted an experiment where a group of students attended an eight session workshop. Half of the students were sent to the workshop that discussed study skills and growth while the other half were sent to a workshop that only covered study skills. The students who attended the first workshop learned that the brain is a muscle that needs to be strengthened and also that they ccan sharpen their skills by practicing. The students in the second group learned about study skills but were not motivated to put the skills they learned into action. The students who learned both growth and study skills saw a rebound in grades, while the others students' grades continued to decline. The teachers of these students could easily pick out the students that attended the growth workshops and those who did not. This experiment was also used to determine if the growth mindset could influence the effectiveness of race car drivers.
I feel that this podcast challenges me to actively motivate my students when I am in the classroom. Many teachers simply require that students memorize the material taught and do not stress the importance of application and critical thinking. This will ultimately help the student increase their intelligence and develop a desire to build on their newly acquired knowledge and skills.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
WGBH Podcasts
I watched the video podcast 'What is a Planet?". The video was a short excerpt from the Nova scienceNOW episode titled "10th Planet". In the video, the definition of a planet is discussed. Up until August 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognized nine planets in our solar system. Now, however, more and more astronomers are challenging this tally. Many believe that there may actually be 10-12 planets in the solar system. One of these astronomers is Mike Brown of CalTech. He along with his colleagues discovered a 10th "planet", which they named UB313. This caused an uproar in the astronomical community since there was no solid definition of the term "planet". Many astronomers disagreed upon the factors that should be met in order for a body to be deemed a planet. After much debate, the IAU came up with four standards that would determine if a heavenly body could be called a planet. A planet must be a body that orbits around a star, be round in shape, have a mass that exerts gravity, a have cleared its neighborhood. These standards caused the 9th planet, Pluto, to be downgraded to a dwarf planet. Neptune is also in danger of being downgraded since it has not cleared its neighborhood. As more research is done on the planets, the statutes that qualify a body as a planet will continue to change.
I feel that these educational podcasts could be very helpful to me in my classroom. When textbooks are published, they contain information that is viable up until the publication date. When dealing with subjects such as science, it is possible for certain theories to develop and change in a short period of time. These podcasts will allow me to stay updated with current events and in turn incorporate this knowledge into my lessons.
I also believe that the podcasts will serve as learning tools for my students. It is much easier for a student to understand a concept if they are able to see it applied to real life. Educational programs like Nova take the material printed in textbooks and presents it in a fashion that catches the attention of students. The videos can help the students visualize what they are learning and also encourage the students to ask questions and perhaps desire to learn more on the subject.
I feel that these educational podcasts could be very helpful to me in my classroom. When textbooks are published, they contain information that is viable up until the publication date. When dealing with subjects such as science, it is possible for certain theories to develop and change in a short period of time. These podcasts will allow me to stay updated with current events and in turn incorporate this knowledge into my lessons.
I also believe that the podcasts will serve as learning tools for my students. It is much easier for a student to understand a concept if they are able to see it applied to real life. Educational programs like Nova take the material printed in textbooks and presents it in a fashion that catches the attention of students. The videos can help the students visualize what they are learning and also encourage the students to ask questions and perhaps desire to learn more on the subject.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
iTunes Podcasts
The Edible Schoolyard
The Edible Schoolyard is a class of 6th graders in Berkley, CA. These students do not sit at their desks all day, but rather help take care of a vegetable garden located next to the classroom. During first period, the students plant, harvest, and eat the organic vegetables they grow. Besides the garden, the students also spend time in the learning lab and kitchen located inside the school. For these students, gardening is at the center of everything they are taught. Their teacher uses the students' experience in the garden to relate concepts in social studies, math, science, and other subjects. The students learn the basics of ecology and also how to work together for group projects. These activities also help the students develop a sense of community. Alice Waters originated the idea for the Edible Schoolyard as an idea on how to improve school lunches. She feels that this program can help students better understand what they are learning in class and apply the principles to real-world situations.
I feel that this podcast opened my eyes to the different resources I can use to teach important concepts to my students. For some students, sitting at a desk is not a efficient way for them to learn. By incorporating hands-on activities, students are able to fully understand the concept being taught and also how they can apply it to their day to day lives. This will ultimately allow the student to retain the information learned and not forget it as soon as they are tested on it.
A Night in the Global Village
The Global Village is located on the Heifer Ranch in Perryville, AR. It is headed by the Global Gateway Program, which is dedicated to ending hunger and poverty and creating sustainable development in impoverished countries. This group donates livestock to these countries and develops programs to raise awareness on these issues. Students who come to the Global Village are randomly placed in groups and spend the night in the village. Each group is assigned to a particular structure that reflects those found in Guatemala, Thailand, Zambia, the Appalachians, and refugee camps. During the night, the students discuss issues like sanitation and poverty. Some of the groups are given a bucket of supplies while others must find food and water on their own. Some of the children are made to appear pregnant or missing a limb in order to represent the various physical hardships faced by those in that situation. The groups are also given chores to complete and must learn to barter with the other groups for supplies, food, and water.
I thought that this podcast was very informative an challenging. As teachers, we are expected to educate our students on many different subjects, even uncomfortable ones like poverty. This podcast is a great tool to begin class discussions on different countries and the economic hardships that occur there. Hopefully this could motivate the students to want to learn more about these places and get involved. From these conversations class and school projects could immerge, like a coin drive to help organizations that are dedicated to ending poverty. I feel this is a very important subject that students should be educated about early on.
The Edible Schoolyard is a class of 6th graders in Berkley, CA. These students do not sit at their desks all day, but rather help take care of a vegetable garden located next to the classroom. During first period, the students plant, harvest, and eat the organic vegetables they grow. Besides the garden, the students also spend time in the learning lab and kitchen located inside the school. For these students, gardening is at the center of everything they are taught. Their teacher uses the students' experience in the garden to relate concepts in social studies, math, science, and other subjects. The students learn the basics of ecology and also how to work together for group projects. These activities also help the students develop a sense of community. Alice Waters originated the idea for the Edible Schoolyard as an idea on how to improve school lunches. She feels that this program can help students better understand what they are learning in class and apply the principles to real-world situations.
I feel that this podcast opened my eyes to the different resources I can use to teach important concepts to my students. For some students, sitting at a desk is not a efficient way for them to learn. By incorporating hands-on activities, students are able to fully understand the concept being taught and also how they can apply it to their day to day lives. This will ultimately allow the student to retain the information learned and not forget it as soon as they are tested on it.
A Night in the Global Village
The Global Village is located on the Heifer Ranch in Perryville, AR. It is headed by the Global Gateway Program, which is dedicated to ending hunger and poverty and creating sustainable development in impoverished countries. This group donates livestock to these countries and develops programs to raise awareness on these issues. Students who come to the Global Village are randomly placed in groups and spend the night in the village. Each group is assigned to a particular structure that reflects those found in Guatemala, Thailand, Zambia, the Appalachians, and refugee camps. During the night, the students discuss issues like sanitation and poverty. Some of the groups are given a bucket of supplies while others must find food and water on their own. Some of the children are made to appear pregnant or missing a limb in order to represent the various physical hardships faced by those in that situation. The groups are also given chores to complete and must learn to barter with the other groups for supplies, food, and water.
I thought that this podcast was very informative an challenging. As teachers, we are expected to educate our students on many different subjects, even uncomfortable ones like poverty. This podcast is a great tool to begin class discussions on different countries and the economic hardships that occur there. Hopefully this could motivate the students to want to learn more about these places and get involved. From these conversations class and school projects could immerge, like a coin drive to help organizations that are dedicated to ending poverty. I feel this is a very important subject that students should be educated about early on.
Alabama Virtual Library and Accessibility for All
Alabama Virtual Library
The Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) is an online database that connects students, teachers, and Alabama citizens to various educational resources. The database contains articles from magazines, journals, and newspapers. These articles are categorized by their subject and assigned to specific search engines. For example, a journal article on Shakespeare could be found under one of the literary search engines. Another feature of the AVL is the citation feature. Every entry has citation information that is required for writing research papers. The articles also contain publishing information so that the articles can be found in paper form if necessary.
The AVL can be very useful in teaching students how to use the internet to do research. Common search engines such as Google present documents that are inaccessible to students. The AVL provides credible sources to students and teach students how to properly do research and document what they find. The most important benefit to teachers is that they have a free educational resource to offer students.
Alabama Virtual Library
Accessibility for All
After viewing Mr. Sullivan's presentation, I realized how important it is for me to become familiar with the technology surrounding accessibility for the blind. It had never occurred to me how important and easy it is to make the material I post on the internet accessible to those with disabilities. As a future teacher, I was very interested in the software available for the blind. Being able to see this software demonstrated made me realize that I need to do more research since it is quite possible that I may have a child with this disability in my classroom. I was very encouraged to know that these resources are available to help me reach my students who simply need a few accommodations.
Mr. Sullivan's Presentation
The Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) is an online database that connects students, teachers, and Alabama citizens to various educational resources. The database contains articles from magazines, journals, and newspapers. These articles are categorized by their subject and assigned to specific search engines. For example, a journal article on Shakespeare could be found under one of the literary search engines. Another feature of the AVL is the citation feature. Every entry has citation information that is required for writing research papers. The articles also contain publishing information so that the articles can be found in paper form if necessary.
The AVL can be very useful in teaching students how to use the internet to do research. Common search engines such as Google present documents that are inaccessible to students. The AVL provides credible sources to students and teach students how to properly do research and document what they find. The most important benefit to teachers is that they have a free educational resource to offer students.
Alabama Virtual Library
Accessibility for All
After viewing Mr. Sullivan's presentation, I realized how important it is for me to become familiar with the technology surrounding accessibility for the blind. It had never occurred to me how important and easy it is to make the material I post on the internet accessible to those with disabilities. As a future teacher, I was very interested in the software available for the blind. Being able to see this software demonstrated made me realize that I need to do more research since it is quite possible that I may have a child with this disability in my classroom. I was very encouraged to know that these resources are available to help me reach my students who simply need a few accommodations.
Mr. Sullivan's Presentation
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
iTunes Podcasts
The SMARTBoard Lessons podcast is hosted by Ben Hazzard and Joan Badger. In episode 146, Ben and Joan discuss clouds and cloud formations. This is in reference to the use of a program called Wordle. Wordle is a computer program that identifies the most used words in a piece of text. When a word is repeated throughout the text, Wordle gradually increases the size of the word and the creates a word cloud. Joan felt that this was a great program to use in the classroom, but Ben was not very enthusiastic about it. They did however agree that the program could be useful in language arts and writing.
In the KidCast podcast #46, Dan Schmidt broadcasts from Ojai, California. He visited Thatcher High School where they hold a professional development course every summer named the Teach Teachers Collaboration. He spends a lot of time talking to the teachers there and getting their input on the importance and uses of podcasting. Dan also brings up the importance of asking questions. He states that questions are "the heart of academic podcasting." He suggests the Question Game in which the players only speak in questions. He also discusses the use of Bloom's Taxonomy in relation to questioning techniques.
Connect Learning with David Warlick discussed the EduCon 2.0 conference at the Science Leadership Academy. Warlick spoke with Chris Lehmann about the goals of EduCon. Chris Lehmann described the goal of EduCon as an opportunity for educators to "learn from each other." Educators were given the opportunity to have open discussions about technology that can be used in the classroom.
EdTechTalk episode #12 featured Dean Shareski and was hosted by Lorna Constantini. This is a production of the Parents as Partners group. Dean Shareski is a digital learning consultant and supports teachers in different school districts. He uses different technologies to keep in touch with the instructors since the teachers he supports are located in many different locations.
MacBreak Weekly is hosted by Leo Laporte, Andy Ihnatko, Scott Bourne, and Alex Lindsay. The hosts discuss news relating to the Mac and everything else Apple. In this episode they discuss Apple stocks, the downfall of the famous iPhone developer, and the rumors surrounding the iBrick. All of the hosts are avid Apple users and are constantly reviewing new technology developed by Apple.
Alex Lindsay and Scott Bourne are the hosts of This Week in Photography. Each week they discuss different techniques and technology involving cameras. In episode 50, Andrew Darlow comes in to discuss how to get the most out of prints. Darlow discusses what inkjet printers produce the best prints. A big concern of many photographers is getting quality prints without spending a fortune on an inkjet printer. The importance of printer width is discussed as this determines the overall quality of the print color.
In the KidCast podcast #46, Dan Schmidt broadcasts from Ojai, California. He visited Thatcher High School where they hold a professional development course every summer named the Teach Teachers Collaboration. He spends a lot of time talking to the teachers there and getting their input on the importance and uses of podcasting. Dan also brings up the importance of asking questions. He states that questions are "the heart of academic podcasting." He suggests the Question Game in which the players only speak in questions. He also discusses the use of Bloom's Taxonomy in relation to questioning techniques.
Connect Learning with David Warlick discussed the EduCon 2.0 conference at the Science Leadership Academy. Warlick spoke with Chris Lehmann about the goals of EduCon. Chris Lehmann described the goal of EduCon as an opportunity for educators to "learn from each other." Educators were given the opportunity to have open discussions about technology that can be used in the classroom.
EdTechTalk episode #12 featured Dean Shareski and was hosted by Lorna Constantini. This is a production of the Parents as Partners group. Dean Shareski is a digital learning consultant and supports teachers in different school districts. He uses different technologies to keep in touch with the instructors since the teachers he supports are located in many different locations.
MacBreak Weekly is hosted by Leo Laporte, Andy Ihnatko, Scott Bourne, and Alex Lindsay. The hosts discuss news relating to the Mac and everything else Apple. In this episode they discuss Apple stocks, the downfall of the famous iPhone developer, and the rumors surrounding the iBrick. All of the hosts are avid Apple users and are constantly reviewing new technology developed by Apple.
Alex Lindsay and Scott Bourne are the hosts of This Week in Photography. Each week they discuss different techniques and technology involving cameras. In episode 50, Andrew Darlow comes in to discuss how to get the most out of prints. Darlow discusses what inkjet printers produce the best prints. A big concern of many photographers is getting quality prints without spending a fortune on an inkjet printer. The importance of printer width is discussed as this determines the overall quality of the print color.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The Last Lecture of Randy Pausch
In Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture," he brings up many teaching methods that can be useful to everyone, especially those going into education. These methods were produced during Randy Pausch's work with his students at Carnegie Mellon University and other teaching positions.
One teaching method that Randy Pausch stressed was not setting bars. He refers to his Virtual Reality course he developed. He never set a standard for his students, but instead gave his students the freedom to explore and develop their ideas. Pausch was then pleasantly surprised at how his students exceeded his expectations. This shows that by encouraging students and truly making "the sky the limit," students will exceed any level of success an educator can set.
Another teaching method used by Pausch was group work. And entire graduate course Pausch co-directed consisted only of group projects. The members of the groups changed every two weeks along with the project. This allowed the students to interact with each other and learn to work civilly with people they may not know well. Pausch also mentioned the "head fake". This is when a student is able to learn a hard skill while having fun. By making the assignment entertaining, the student is able to better relate to the subject matter and begins to master the subject unknowingly. This is an extremely important teaching technique because it prevents the opportunity for a student to say that they "can't do" a certain task or think that a learning objective is "too hard."
The final teaching method Randy Pausch stressed was to have fun. If a teacher is not enjoying what he/she is doing, it is impossible for a student to hold any enthusiasm about their education. It is the responsibility of the teacher to make learning entertaining, even when the subject matter is difficult and not easy to master. If a teacher conveys a positive attitude, the same can be expected of the class.
One teaching method that Randy Pausch stressed was not setting bars. He refers to his Virtual Reality course he developed. He never set a standard for his students, but instead gave his students the freedom to explore and develop their ideas. Pausch was then pleasantly surprised at how his students exceeded his expectations. This shows that by encouraging students and truly making "the sky the limit," students will exceed any level of success an educator can set.
Another teaching method used by Pausch was group work. And entire graduate course Pausch co-directed consisted only of group projects. The members of the groups changed every two weeks along with the project. This allowed the students to interact with each other and learn to work civilly with people they may not know well. Pausch also mentioned the "head fake". This is when a student is able to learn a hard skill while having fun. By making the assignment entertaining, the student is able to better relate to the subject matter and begins to master the subject unknowingly. This is an extremely important teaching technique because it prevents the opportunity for a student to say that they "can't do" a certain task or think that a learning objective is "too hard."
The final teaching method Randy Pausch stressed was to have fun. If a teacher is not enjoying what he/she is doing, it is impossible for a student to hold any enthusiasm about their education. It is the responsibility of the teacher to make learning entertaining, even when the subject matter is difficult and not easy to master. If a teacher conveys a positive attitude, the same can be expected of the class.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
International Classroom Blogs
Mrs. Freeman's classroom blog for her Year 5 and 6 students serves as a window into the classroom. Many of the classes recent activities are posted on the site. Examples of these are video and a slideshow of a program the students were a part of. Mrs. Freeman also presents questions for the students to respond to on the blog. One of the most recent questions asked what the term 'sustainability' meant. The students were encouraged to post their answers to that specific blog. The blog also contains links to the personal blogs of the students and also to those of classrooms in other countries.
http://m3rbs.21classes.com/
Mrs. McNamara's Year 5 Class -- Sydney, Australia
Mrs. McNamara's blog basically gives a recap of all of the activities her class takes part in. She takes care to include many pictures of her students and their projects. Her most recent post is dedicated solely to the picture story projects her students produced. The blog also presents the work of various students. Many of these posts are writing assignments and other small projects. The students are encouraged to write about fun happenings in the classroom as well.
http://mrsmcsclass.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
U.S. Classroom Blogs
Mr. Ambrose's 5th Grade Class -- Detroit, MI
Mr. Ambrose's blog for his 5th grade class provides a number of great resources for his students. The majority of the posts include links to educational websites that relate to the subject being taught in class. The most recent post has links to online games that help improve typing skills. An interesting feature of the blog is the topic overviews. Mr. Ambrose posts what the next unit will cover and links that the students can view. This allows the students to get a sneak peak at what will be covered and feel more comfortable with the subject. The other resources used allow the students to explore the curriculum outside of the classroom.
http://classofambrose.blogspot.com
Mrs. Julia Osteen's 6th Language Arts Class -- Atlanta, GA
Mrs. Osteen uses her blog as a regular part of her class. The students have their own blogs where they post responses to specific assignments. The most recent assignment required the students to write a short paragraph about their summer reading. The students are also allowed to write about topics that are important to them. Mrs. Osteen's ultimate goal is to nurture communication between the students in order to make the more effective writers.
http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=17192
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The ACCESS Program
The ACCESS initiative (Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide) is a program that provides high-quality courses through the internet. These courses are taught by state-certified teachers. The courses offered in this program are available to low-income and rural schools that are unable to provide higher level courses or advanced diplomas. Equal access to course is given to all students. Since all of these courses are only available online, the ACCESS program provides computers and other equipment to the schools that have labs. A significant amount of money is given to every school in the ACCESS program in order to fund equipment and support to students and teachers. The biggest plus of the program is that students are given the opportunity to take courses that are not offered at their schools.
Teachers who take part in the ACCESS program have the unique opportunity to reach out to students in other regions. These teachers are board-certified and are given intense training to ensure they are capable of presenting the subject and helping students succeed. This is achieved by requiring that all ACCESS teachers go through training. This training not only covers how to run a distant learning course, but also how to operate the technology that will be used in the course. Aside from the formal training, teachers may also attend workshops and professional development meetings. Help with videoconferencing and equipment is also available. Teachers are compensated according to how many half credits they teach. These resources allow teachers to not only improve themselves professionally, but also to reach out to students they would otherwise not have to opportunity to teach.
Teachers who take part in the ACCESS program have the unique opportunity to reach out to students in other regions. These teachers are board-certified and are given intense training to ensure they are capable of presenting the subject and helping students succeed. This is achieved by requiring that all ACCESS teachers go through training. This training not only covers how to run a distant learning course, but also how to operate the technology that will be used in the course. Aside from the formal training, teachers may also attend workshops and professional development meetings. Help with videoconferencing and equipment is also available. Teachers are compensated according to how many half credits they teach. These resources allow teachers to not only improve themselves professionally, but also to reach out to students they would otherwise not have to opportunity to teach.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
The ALEX Initiative
The Alabama Learning Exchange, or ALEX, is a program established by the Alabama Department of Education to help students, teachers, and administrators with their educational needs. The ALEX website includes many features that all students and school personnel can find useful. For teachers, the website features detailed lesson plans and Alabama Course of Study guides. The lesson plans have suggestions for in-class activities to help students learn the material. Other websites are also referenced and have interactive games to reinforce learning. The ALEX program covers all academic subjects, including mathematics, art, foreign languages, and physical education.
Another helpful feature of the ALEX site is the web links page. This page offers students and teachers links to other sites that can serve as a learning tool. The ALEX site also has a separate section for teachers to establish web pages and a workspace. This workspace can be used to store lesson plans and submit lesson plans. There is also a section for professional development. Teachers can find development opportunities, learning tools, and recent news articles.
I believe that the ALEX initiative can be very helpful to educators and administration. The best way to improve schools is to provide teachers with tools that will allow them different methods of reaching their students. Administration can also use the site to help its staff be more effective in the classroom. ALEX also gives students the opportunity to take a proactive role in their education and find learning resources to help them better understand what they learn in class. I think that this website will offer me greater opportunities to provide effective and relevant material to my students. By continuing to learn myself, I will be better prepared to help students who struggle with certain subjects or need different resources for learning.
Another helpful feature of the ALEX site is the web links page. This page offers students and teachers links to other sites that can serve as a learning tool. The ALEX site also has a separate section for teachers to establish web pages and a workspace. This workspace can be used to store lesson plans and submit lesson plans. There is also a section for professional development. Teachers can find development opportunities, learning tools, and recent news articles.
I believe that the ALEX initiative can be very helpful to educators and administration. The best way to improve schools is to provide teachers with tools that will allow them different methods of reaching their students. Administration can also use the site to help its staff be more effective in the classroom. ALEX also gives students the opportunity to take a proactive role in their education and find learning resources to help them better understand what they learn in class. I think that this website will offer me greater opportunities to provide effective and relevant material to my students. By continuing to learn myself, I will be better prepared to help students who struggle with certain subjects or need different resources for learning.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The lowdown on my presentation...
I've been trying to think of some interesting topics to cover in my google presentation. I don't really consider myself that interesting, so it will a challenge to put my life into a presentation. As of right now, I plan to cover my interests (ex. cooking) and my favorite bands/artists. Music is a huge part of my life so I will try not to go overboard with that kind of information. I will also include pictures from my trips to various places.
I'm somewhat excited to put this presentation together. I hope that it allows all of you to get a better idea of the things I like to do. I'm still working on the material I'll be including, but I will try my best to keep you interested.
I'm somewhat excited to put this presentation together. I hope that it allows all of you to get a better idea of the things I like to do. I'm still working on the material I'll be including, but I will try my best to keep you interested.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
All About Me...
Well, my name is Crystal. I'm 20 years old and am originally from Sylacauga, AL. No need asking where that is located...it's not a very exciting place. I've officially lived in Mobile for one week and so far I love it!
In my spare time, I like to read, go shopping, discover new music, cook, and watch the History Channel as well as the Fox News Channel. What can I say? I am a bit of a nerd. My taste in music is varied; I love everything from country to classic rock. I believe that it takes a true music lover to appreciate (not so much like) other genres. Another one of my loves is travel. So far I've been to New York City, Philadelphia, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., and Italy. Italy was definitely my favorite destination and I plan to go back very soon.
I'm not exactly sure what brought me to South. Before moving here, I had only been to the campus twice. I suppose the best way to describe it is that I felt called here. Since moving here I've met some really amazing people and I'm really excited to build these relationships over the next few years.
I'm a believer and I'm daily trying to become more like Christ. I fall flat on my face daily, but He is good and displays His mercy in my life every moment of the day. By no means am I perfect, but I find comfort in the knowledge that God loves me unconditionally.
I guess that's all you need to know about me...or at least that's all I can think of right now. I'm a really open person and love meeting new people. I feel building relationships with people is one of the most important things we can do. So I hope that this post will be the start of many new friendships!
In my spare time, I like to read, go shopping, discover new music, cook, and watch the History Channel as well as the Fox News Channel. What can I say? I am a bit of a nerd. My taste in music is varied; I love everything from country to classic rock. I believe that it takes a true music lover to appreciate (not so much like) other genres. Another one of my loves is travel. So far I've been to New York City, Philadelphia, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., and Italy. Italy was definitely my favorite destination and I plan to go back very soon.
I'm not exactly sure what brought me to South. Before moving here, I had only been to the campus twice. I suppose the best way to describe it is that I felt called here. Since moving here I've met some really amazing people and I'm really excited to build these relationships over the next few years.
I'm a believer and I'm daily trying to become more like Christ. I fall flat on my face daily, but He is good and displays His mercy in my life every moment of the day. By no means am I perfect, but I find comfort in the knowledge that God loves me unconditionally.
I guess that's all you need to know about me...or at least that's all I can think of right now. I'm a really open person and love meeting new people. I feel building relationships with people is one of the most important things we can do. So I hope that this post will be the start of many new friendships!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
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