Ms. Kathy Cassidy, a 1st Grade teacher in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada conversed with EDM 310 in the first of two consecutive delightful, informative and fun Skype Sessions on February 17, 2010 which can also be accessed by clicking the picture. . The second Skype session was with Ms. Kelly Hines and can be accessed in the post just above. Ms. Cassidy addressed many topics of interest including the use of technology with first graders, the acceptance of technology as a teaching tool at her school, how she got started in using technology, the reactions of students and parents, how important her PLN has been to her, and how valuable Twitter has been in her recent career. She also showed the EDM310 students the snow in her back yard. There were lots of oohs and aahs. EDM310 students: If you were not present when this was recorded, watch this movie (32:14). Leave a comment here.
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What a great experience. I wish our class would have been able to Skype with Mrs. Cassidy. It was interesting listening to Mrs. Cassidy talk about how many years she has been working with these new technologies and programs with her students. Mrs. Cassidy stated she had had a website for about 10 years now, a class blog for about 5 years, and has been doing a video for about 2 years. I also enjoyed it when the students in class asked questions to Mrs. Cassidy. Dr. Strange asked Mrs. Cassidy if teachers should be technologically literate. She said teachers should be because technology is getting better and better. Teachers need to keep up with technology. Educators should help their students create and start their own online networks. One student asked if she thought Facebook should be used when it comes to education. Mrs. Cassidy does think it can be used, but by creating a school profile. Toward the end, Mrs. Cassidy explained how she protects her students from the "bad things" on the internet. She stated that she tells them not to use their last name or post a picture. Teachers need to know how to help students know and create safe learning networks as well. I thought it was neat that she showed her back yard full of snow! She said it came up to her waist in the middle of her yard. What a great Skype session!
ReplyDeleteThe skype session with Mrs. Cassidy was really great and informative. She explained how she uses technology in her classroom and how she keeps her students safe. One of the really great things that she talked about was when Dr. Strange asked her about what she thought about elementary teachers and technology in the classroom. Her answer was similar to my answer; she says that as teachers we should want to learn how to apply technology in the classroom. Her answer to if a teacher should be technology literate is "absolutely" and she said that just having the basics is not enough these days. I do not agree completely with her but she does give some great ideas on how to begin learning and one of the ways was with a PLN. She had some great ideas on how to apply technology in her classroom. This was a really interesting video!
ReplyDeleteAnother great video about technology in the classroom. I am learning so much about teachnology these days. This is so much better than my computer CIS computer class I had taken. I do agree that teachers these days must know alot about technology to reach out to their students. I would watch it again.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that we are able to talk to other educators using Skype like Mrs. Cassidy and Ms. Hines. For our group interview project I have got my father-in-law who is an Administrator of technology in the Clarence City school systems. He also teaches an educational technology class at the University of Buffalo. I hope to have the experience like I did with Mrs. Cassidy with him as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat can be done with technology today is great. Thank you for sharing this with the classes that were not able to be there!
ReplyDeleteWish our class could've skyped with mrs. cassidy and ms hines!
ReplyDeleteSkyping is such a great tool. Its neat to talk to someone almost close to be being fact to face so far away!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed listening to Mrs. Cassidy. I thought she made some great, interesting points. I thought her advice on using Facebook was excellent. I am always worried about having personal contact with teachers, but creating a school account could be extremely useful. I might consider this depending on how Facebook is still being used.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had been able to listen to Ms. Cassidy's Skype session. Skype is an amazing tool. I agree that technology is very important in the classroom and I enjoyed hearing some of her ideas for technology in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed Cassidys video. It was really educational. It is hard to find time when you have small ones to sit down with a lap top. I think her push for tweeter really hit home with me. I want to take mine a lil more serious so it will develop to a source of support and information. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI think it is a great thing that we are able to use skype to talk with other educators and get their input for technology in the classroom. I have talked to an elementary school librarian, Ms. Kiki Sealy about how the library uses technology. And she had informed me that they use computers for keyboarding lessons, teaching students how to use PowerPoint, and the Accelerated Reader program. It is wonderful that technology is becoming more available for schools. Hopefully more schools will be able to receive funds to use these tools. It is wonderful that teachers use the tool and teach safety along with it.
ReplyDeleteThe really great thing about skype to me, is that even in places where you can always have your phone (Like soldier's in a war zone), if you can have the internet (which you frequently can) you can skype with them, and that's even better than a cell phone, because it's actually face to face.
ReplyDeleteI wish I was there when the skyping took place because the I could have understand better. However, I think it would have been cool to skype in. I have never done that before. I cannot wait to do that myself.
ReplyDeleteI want to skype with someone-- somewhre elese-- but the only people I know are older and they are like WHAT?! Telephone television? haha- I'm still working on getting my friend in Nashville to do it-- hopefully that will end in success
ReplyDeleteI really we could have skyped with Mrs. Cassidy in my class. I agree with her that facebook can be very useful. I was friends with my physics teacher last semester, and that helped greatly because the class was so demanding. He checked his facebook regularly, so if I ever had a question, I knew just where to go. Very convenient!
ReplyDeleteWow, I wish I could have been there to skype with Mrs. Cassidy. I like how she wnts to use things like facebook and skype for better things, other than uploading your pictures or following celebrities...It has opened my eyes to bigger and better possibilities.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great skype session! It would have been neat to sit in on this, or in the future be able to! How cool is it that we are able to do this?!
ReplyDeleteSkype is such an amazing tool! Mrs. Cassidy had so much to share about technology in the classroom!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this video and hope to be able to use technology in my classroom as much as she has.
ReplyDeleteMs. Cassidy was very fun and interesting to skype with the class. I wish I would have had the opportunity to be present during that skyping session. You can tell she has a great desire for teaching and using technology to benefit her students! I enjoyed watching this video. The snow in her backyard blew my mind! haha! That is awesome.
ReplyDeleteIt was encouraging to hear Mrs. Cassidy got started in technology. she gives me more courage in learning more and more about technology in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteWow! The snow was so cool to look at and what an awesome way to take your students around the world without ever leaving the classroom. I am so glad I watched this skype. I hope to implement many of the ways she uses technology in my future classroom too! Thanks Mrs. Cassidy that was great!
ReplyDeleteI really liked how Ms. Cassidy discovered ways that she could use technology in her classroom implementing them as part of her centers. Thanks so much for sharing with us Ms. Cassidy!
ReplyDeleteMs. Cassidy's Skype was awesome. I enjoyed learning how she uses technology in her classrooms. I like the way she was able to show students so much without leaving the classroom. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteMs. Cassidy made excellent points regarding blogs. What she said about the children wanting to write because they know that there are people from all around the world who are waiting to read it was very true. This, to me, encourages learning from the students. Great Skype!
ReplyDeleteI like the was Ms. Cassidy uses technology in her centers! This Skype was great. I also like the way she wants to use facebook and Skype in more educational ways. I noticed that students do like to get comments on their blogs from all over the place and she talked about that! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteBy using Skype in the classroom we make learning more meaningful and can take ownership of it. If I am involved in something from beginning to end then I am more likely going to remeber what I have learned. I think technology is like that. If my students can meet other educators and students then they will become more invested. Ms. Cassidy does a wonderful job with that.
ReplyDeleteVery good it would have been great to experience this particular skype with Mrs. Cassidy and Mrs. Hines.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a very cool interview. I enjoyed it very much! I think when I am a teacher I will use blogging mostly. I think it is a great tool for the classroom. I think it great for the teachers, the parents, and the students. The students will be learning to use a blog and be excited about the different ways to learn. It is a great way to keep up with students work. A blog acts as an electronic portfolio. It is great for parents as well because I feel as if they will be more involved in their students work if they can see what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Stranges class. I thought your class video was awesome! I believe you are taking a very appropriate and very necessary approach to the learning environment. This technolgical approach should be made with all teachers, and you're making a great start! Great video thanks!
ReplyDeleteHello! I am currently a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Stranges EDM 310 class. I found your video to be very interesting. It is so great to see children want to learn, and with all the technology that is being created students have more interaction and will actually want to learn especially at such a young age.
ReplyDeleteHi, my name is Brooke and I am in Dr. Stranges EDM class! I really enjoyed listening to Ms. Cassidy's. She had many great and interesting points. I think technology within the classroom is an excellent idea, and should be used within the school systems. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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ReplyDeleteMy name is Kiara and I am in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I really liked how Ms. Cassidy's class was engaged in the technology. I think it is good that they have the opportunity to use it and have the joy of knowing that many people all over the world can see their work. I would love to use technology in my classroom and I have definitely learned of many ways to incorporate it, from Dr. Strange and Ms. Cassidy.
Hey! I am Sterling, and I am in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I thought that this skype interview was really good. I thought that some great points and ideas were made. I also believe that technology should be used inside all classroom settings. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMs. Cassidy explains here how much parents and students alike enjoy the use of technology in the classroom. It allows ease of access to parents who are sometimes busy when there are parent teacher nights and it also allows for more of an involvement and understanding with your child's education. I think this was great! I wish more teachers would have a classroom site for parents to visit from home. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI did not get to watch the Skye Conversation with Ms. Cassidy but I have read some of the comments that were left and can get an overview of what the conversation was about. When the computers were given to Ms. Cassidy she put them to good use by setting up her student to learn how to use them. I did watch the video Ms. Cassidy's First Graders and I thought this was great to see these students learning so much. I hope that I can help student to learn in different ways of technology.
ReplyDeleteThe questions on this video are great and it really gives us an inside look on how Kathy Cassidy got started. This woman truly inspires me and hopefully one day I can be successful as she is with enhancing technology into my own classroom.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed listening to Mrs. Cassidy. I thought she made some interesting points. I thought her advice on using Facebook was pretty interesting. I have always stressed about having a personal contact with teachers, now that i have a school account it's easier to get in contact with my professors.
ReplyDeleteI am a student in University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange’s class. You could use mostly the same ideas on blogging or twitter to find information from all over the world. When you have students typing up there work you can see them grow in proper English language and writing from the beginning of the year to the end. By stating we are handicapped in ways such as technology makes a good point on if we don't grow as teachers and educators then our students will falter later in life because they will be behind. By letting kids post on blogs and other Internet pages then they will fill better because they feel like they are writing something someone wants to read instead of wasting paper then no one sees it. Some off her best points were new teachers using technology to get information from the older or more experienced ones. If we work together as one in schools then as teachers we can get our students more prepared and we also can be ready for anything that gets put in our way.
ReplyDeleteMs.Cassidy I just love what you are doing with and for your class, and I know having a great support system and having funds to do these great things in your classroom are they key to having such a successful technological advance in a classroom such as yours.Your students should be very proud and honored to have a hardworking and devoted teacher such as yourself.I really like how you protect the kids from online predators by not matching their pictures to their names and also by sending home permission slips to notify their parents of what is to be expected in your classroom.I plan to use the same steps you have taken when teaching my very own classroom.Thank you so much for sharing this video with the whole world.
ReplyDeleteMs. Cassidy is an excellent example to any teacher or future teacher who like to use these types of technology in their classroom. She does an excellent job of getting her students excited and motivated to learn by the use of blogs and wikis. She also inspires them to share their work as well as view the work of others (Skype, videos).
ReplyDeleteI hope to be a teacher that puts technology to use and maybe even more than Mrs. Cassidy. Thanks to your video I am now more excited about different ways of using technology.
ReplyDeleteI admire your attitude when you were given the initial five computers to make them work in your classroom for the students' benefit. That might have presented a daunting task for those not ready to challenge themselves as well as their students! Beginning with a webpage and learning from there was a good way to learn to navigate the world wide web to your advantage. I plan to start a blog in my class if there is not one already for my school. And I want to include my students' parents in all aspects; I think their support and awareness is a key factor!
ReplyDeleteYour emphasis on the audience for these young writers really stuck out in my mind. Like artists whose artwork is on display, there is a sense of confidence, accountability and intellectual participation that evolves in the process of writing for publication. Children need that affirmation.
Thank you for your foresight and determination that has taken the education community by storm. You are an inspiring innovator!