Assignments on the Blog

I have made a number of assignments on the blog. That is the best way I have to communicate with you. At least those o you who read the class blog!

Here is my list of those added assignments. Have you done them all?

1. Vocaroo
2. Another Questionnaire - CLOSED If you did not do it, it is too late.
3. Some More Words of Wisdom (AND AN ASSIGNMENT) From Dr. Scott Mcleod
4. How's My A? - CLOSED If you did not do it, it is too late.
5. Grades You were not REQUIRED to comment, but I would like for you to if you have anything useful to contribute. If you don't no need to leave a comment.
6. Midterm Reflection If you did not complete this you should consult with your lab instructor or me immediately. Open for Class H until 9:00 pm 3/25/10. CLOSED for all others (but if you have not done it and read this post before 9 pm tonight, do it. It will help a little bit.
7. How's Your A? Some of You Won't Make it Through the 3rd Grade! ou were not REQUIRED to comment, but I would like for you to if you have anything useful to contribute. If you don't no need to leave a comment.
8. Too Much Time? Required and still open until Thursday 4/1/10 at 9:00 pm.
9. Honest Reflection is Required - A New Assignment. Still open. Although comments can continue to be left (and I do want us all to continue the conversation), this assignment will be considered late for all initial comments after 9 pm Thursday April 1, 2010.
10. You have to have a working link on your blog to the class blog.
11. You have to have a working link on your blog that automatically opens a message area correctly addressed to your email.
12. You have to be regularly adding pictures and working links (where appropriate) to your blog.
13. The images added must be compliant with accessibility requirements and must reveal the source of the image when you hover the cursor over the image. How do you test to see whether these work? Hold the cursor over the image on this post. After about 15 seconds a little window will pop up and say Source: Google images. Lots of websites. It will disappear in another 15 seconds or so. You cannot directly check the alt tag information but you can indirectly check it. Open your blog in Firefox (or this blog). You should have the WAVE installed. OK, even though this is on the spreadsheet Preparing for Your Intellectual Journey in line 13, here is the link: Wave Accessibility Tool. You can either put in a URL or you can install the Firefox toolbar. Download the Firefox tool. You will have to click Allow (upper right) and restart Firefox. Then the WAVE tool will be in the toolbar of Firefox. Click on Errors, Features and Alerts. If you have done the alt modifier correctly, there will be a green triangle with alt in it by every image of yours. If you have not done it correctly, it will be red. If you scroll down to the post on this blog with a picture of the human brain you will see that I have done neither the alt nor the title (used for Source) modifiers. Full instructions are included in the Syllabus on pp.12, 13, 20, 21. OK, Here's the link you need to Blogger Lesson 2 ALT and TITLE and more. You can listen to it all, or you can wait for it to load and start listening at 5:50. That will save you almost 6 minutes of your 9 hours for EDM310!
14. You must have an RSS feed for the class blog either on your blog or your iGoogle Page.
15. You should be using Delicious. It is a VERY valuable tool.

If anyone thinks of anything else, add it in a comment.

A Look Ahead to the Remaining Projects

Since many of you have different projects outstanding, I will cover them all.

1. Personal Class Blog
2. Presentation which should be embedded in your personal blog.
3. comments4kids If you have missed some of these (many of you have) you need to ask me to assign you replacement assignments since it is now impossible to go back and complete the assignments originally provided you. Send me an email asking for (insert the number you need) additional assignments for comments4kids. I may spread them over 2 or 3 weeks and will do so if requested by you.
4. PLN - You should be continuing to work on this project. I have a post which deals with PLNs Working on Your PLN. An even better post is Jackie Gorski's post The Evolution of My PLN - Initial Post . You should also consult the special blog Mathis Gorski EDM310 Projects. You will need to write a final post describing your PLN and how you are developing it. It would be nice if you had something to say about how your PLN has helped you so far (if it has). And ask Morgan Bayda about her PLN. She is a student just like you. If you do not recognize her name, read the blog assignment for this week and read the Class Blog! I also suggest that you read 9and watch) Shelly Terrell's excellent post A PLN is Like ...
5. Google Docs Form. You should have distributed it and sent it to me. I have only received 29 of them. You MUST do this soon to allow for some replies.
6. At some point before the end of the semester you need to post how you have used Skype this semester. Add your Skype name to your contact list on your class blog. When I send a request asking that I be able to see when you are on line, agree to that.
7. Voice Thread (or Vocaroo) add at least one to a comment you leave for a kid, a comment you leave for a teacher, a comment you leave for a fellow student, or a comment you leave on the class blog or any of my blogs. Send me an email telling me where you left it. An alternate approach would be to record a pos, or part of a post, on your blog using VoiceThread or Vocaroo.
8. Use a tool you have used in this class to teach someone something.CHANGE In the Syllabus (p. 6) I suggest three tools but you can use any tool we have discovered or used in this class. Dina Tillman (Class C) used Screenjelly to teach me something. That was an excellent use of the tool. If you want to know more about what she did, watch for her blog post or contact her. Her email address is on her Class Blog. Write up your project in your blog and either embed your lesson or include a WORKING link to it. Consult my comments on the Syllabus p. 6.
9. Comments4teachers If you are behind you may continue to use the assignment as specified. Catch up NOW if you are behind.
10. Timetoast Timeline. The syllabus says present it using the smartboard in Week 16. This is now CHANGED . Describe your timeline in a brief post on your blog. Include a link to it. Check to make sure your link works!
11. Professional Blog or A Group Blog which you agree to continue after EDM310. There are lots of documents and movies explaining the professional Blog in the syllabus. In addition, see my post today about Morgan Bayda. Her personal blog Morgan Bayda is an EXCELLENT example of what I would like for you to do with your Professional Blog. Be sure you also read my post about her on the class blog for more information related to this project. Another excellent role model for a professional blog is Shelly Terrill's Teacher Reboot Camp. Shelly completed her Masters degree in 2009. She now has 3 jobs: Director of Educator Outreach for Parentella, English Language Instructor for the Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum and the English Camp Instructor and Curriculum Writer for Haus de Familie. You can find links to these organizations by visiting her blog, clicking on My Portfolio and then selecting my complete portfolio. Also look at all of the awards her blog has won in the year that she has been writing it. Shelly lives in Stuttgart, Germany.
CHANGE You can also participate in a group blog which you agree to continue participating in (may every month add a post). You will need at least 3 or 4 partners and 5 or 6 would be better. Ten is about as large a group as you would want to get. Jackie Gorski (Class B) is heading up the EDM310 Alumni Blog. Contact her if you are interested in that. Her email is jackie.gorski2@gmail.com . Or start your own group. If you take this route you must watch a movie I am going to create this weekend explaining some more tools that you will need to use in Blogger and each participant will have to write an initial post scheduled for publication on a schedule I have agreed to. Talk to me if you decide to do Project 11 this way. I hope there are several groups that form to take this approach!
12. A Google Earth Project Dina Tillman and tabitha Greenlee did a neat videocast on Google Earth. Dr. Cassidy had many excellent examples. If you do a search for Google Eart projects or Google Earth lit trips you will find LOTS of examples. See Mr. McClung's two posts on Google Earth projects for his class: Creating A Google Earth Tour and Google Earth Practice. Don't forget to leave a comment. I will provide additional information about including your Google Earth project in your blog.
13. Videocasts/Podcast - They should begin to appear in iTunes tomorrow. I am working on them. Two are up at the University of South Alabama iTunes U site.
14. Substantive Presentation CHANGE There are no rules. Be creative. be imaginative. I will have more posted about Project 14 tomorrow.
15. An interview. CHANGE You now do not have to do it with another student. You may do it alone. See the detailed instructions on p. 7 of the Syllabus. Audio or video using any tool or tools that would work. I think video would be better in some cases and audio in others. You make that decision.

And there are the additional assignments I added via the class blog. I will post a list of them here tomorrow to make it easier for you to check to see that you have done them all.

Morgan Bayda Will Skype Class D - 3/31 2:00pm

... Go to her blog to read the complete text. Just click on the picture or the link in the post below.

Morgan Bayda will Skype Class D next Wednesday at 2pm. She is a student at the University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada majoring in Elementary Education. Morgan has posted a commentary on her excitement at receiving all of your comments. Check out her post Connecting with Professor Strange's Class.

In addition, her personal blog Morgan Bayda is an EXCELLENT example of a professional blog (Project 11). You will notice that there are tabs that take you to various "pages" in her blog. She uses Word Press. Blogger now allows you to add pages like this to your blog. I do not cover how to do this in the materials in the syllabus but it is easy to do but hard to find out how to do it. I will make a movie this week. You can start with this Blogger help page What Are Pages?

Notice how Morgan has used her pages. Most are static. Take a close look at what she has included. If you need help, ask. You can ask me or any of the instructional staff. My guess is that Morgan would also be glad to help you. She may not know Blogger, but she could help you with planning your professional blog.

Note her Wordle also. It is her resume put into Wordle. I am surprised that more of you are not using Wordle more. Check it out!

A Tweet from Mr. Joe McClung

I will have the video up early next week. Skype was giving us fits so it will be a bit difficult to follow. It was a great discussion, however!

Honest Reflection is Required - A New Assignment

Go to my post Honest Reflection is Required on my blog Dr. John Strange's Strange Thoughts.

Read it. It took me 4 minutes to read it. It may take you a minute or two longer. Leave a comment. That might take 5 minutes.

Thank you.

I've Changed My Mind - Everyone Please Respond

I've changed my mind. Previously I had asked only a limited number of students, all of whom thought they or their fellow students were being required to spend too much time on EDM310, to complete a questionnaire on time required by EDM310. Now I think it would be better if all students answered the questionnaire.

So please complete the questionnaire Too Much Time?

Midterm Reflections: Too Much Time! and I Am Lost.

I have finished reading and digesting the 107 Midterm reflections I received. There are 139 students still enrolled in EDM310, but a fairly large number are not doing their assignments as the rest of you can tell when you attempt to comment on blogs for which there are no current posts.

Class H only had 8 respondents so I am going to open the questionnaire to Class H members through next Thursday midnight (3/25). We'll see what happens.

I have written emails to many of you who raised issues that needed to be addressed. After thinking about it I have decided to post the two emails here. One contains a link to a survey that addresses the amount of time that EDM 310 requires. If you did not get this email but would like to answer the questionnaire, do so. I would value your input.
Too Much Time!
Some comments:

The workload is a bit overwhelming.
Dr. Strange please stop getting so assignment happy.
Take it easy Dr. Strange.... lay back on the amount of work your assigning.
I think it would be better if this class did not have so much work to do...
I feel like I am required to do TOO much for this class

My response:

You and 8 other students indicated that you felt the time demands of EDM310 were excessive either for you or your classmates. This is an experimental semester. I think that the assignments (including learning how to use the tools to do the assignments) can be completed by an average student in LESS than 9 hours per week. But I only THINK this. I have no evidence to support or undermine my beliefs. And I might be wrong!

You can help by answering the questionnaire I have emailed you titled Too Much Time?

Thank you very much for helping me appropriately address this issue.

And by the way, most of the questions can be answered with just a Yes or No so the questionnaire should take no more than 10 minutes or so to do. Let me know how long it actually takes.

Thanks again!

I Am Lost
I am sending this email to thirteen EDM310 students. In your midterm reflection you raised similar but not identical points so there are comments here that apply to some of you and not others. Pick and choose from the comments below as they apply to you. I would suggest you read them all.

You need more structure
Here's a start:
1. Get an organizer.
2. Mark out 9 hours a week for EDM310 (including lab time if you attend the labs)
3. Print out the projects list (or see Wrap Week 7)
4. Figure out what you need to learn how to do to complete the projects you have not done. If you have difficulty with this, ASK your instructor. The sooner the better.
5. Go to the syllabus and find the instructional material that applies to what you need to learn. If you have difficulty with this, ASK your instructor. The sooner the better.
6. At the appointed time (in your organizer), report for work.
7. Start doing your work. Start with the regular, continuing assignments:
Read the class blog (every day). Do anything that has been added or required since your last visit to the blog.
comments4kids
comments4classmates
comments4teachers
blog assignment
blog post
8. Continue with the projects you have underway (or need to get started on). Prioritize them. Move forward on them as appropriate.
9. When you have completed your 9 hours for the week, take a break (allow time for reading the class blog EVERY DAY) if you are near your 9 hour limit.

You are confused
ASK FOR HELP! Do not wait! I have said this OVER and OVER again but many students who should do not ask for help. It is free. We have promised 24 hour turn around and we are doing very well at that. We seek to respond in 6 hours or less. As far as I can tell we usually meet that goal (not a promise). ASK FOR HELP IMMEDIATELY if you need it!

You don't like blended or online courses
Why not? Be totally honest in your answer. This may give you some clues about what to do about the fact that EDM310 is, and will continue to be, a blended course. And you have to complete it successfully to gain candidacy status. In addition, more and more classes at South will become online, blended, or web enhanced in the future. If it were not for the baby sitting functions that K-12 schools provide, I would expect it to happen there as well.

The Syllabus needs improvement
I agree wholeheartedly. I am beginning to revise it. Any suggestions you have would be VERY welcome!

How's Your A? Some of You Won't Make it Through the 3rd Grade!

How's Your A? Some of You Won't Make it Through the 3rd Grade!

Here is a portion of an email (emphasis added) I received from Mrs. Yollis, one of the third grade teachers of students assigned for comment4kids:

I would like to thank the students in your EDM 310 class for visiting our class blog and especially for leaving a comment.

I don't know how to say what I'm about to say without feeling extremely awkward. However, I'm going to say it.

Please remind your students to proofread their comments before publishing. Many of them are not capitalizing the pronoun I. That is an automatic rejection for third graders. In addition, other grammar errors have been made. For example, use of "a" where "an" is called for and excessive use of exclamation marks.

My students evaluate the comments daily. I did not show two that I received because they did not model quality writing for my students. That is the purpose of our classroom blog.

I wasn't going to say anything, but I feel compelled because these people are passionate about becoming educators and I want to help them succeed.

And you are practicing being teachers. Shape up those of you who are not writing as college students! Mrs. Yollis says she felt awkward in writing me. She should not feel awkward. If you are one of the students who did not use correct grammar, you are the one who should feel awkward! Actually the appropriate word is "ashamed."

Wrap Week 8

You can listen to this podcast on the University's iTunes site or here is the direct link to the podcast: Wrap Week 8

If you would rather read than listen, here is the text of what I said in the podcast:
Week 8 was podcast week, the week in which we made podcasts. The podcasts will begin to be available on the internet immediately after Spring Break.

This week is Midterm Reflection Week. There is a Questionnaire to guide you in the reflection process. It must be completed no later than midnight Thursday March 11.

Complete your comments4... assignments. Complete as many of the quick projects that have not yet been done. Think about what you have to learn and do to complete the other projects. Have a great Spring Break!

Midterm Reflection

REQUIRED Midterm Reflection

This questionnaire must be completed no later than MIDNIGHT THURSDAY March 11, 2010.

Click to Answer the Questionnaire.

Wrap Week 8 , Blog Assignments Part 2 and Comments4Kids Assignment for Week 9

Wrap Week 8, Blog Assignments Part 2 and Comments4Kids Assignment for Week 9 are now available.

Ms. Kelly Hines Skype Conversation with EDM310

Ms. Kelly Hines, a 4th Grade teacher in Washington, North Carolina, USA conversed with EDM 310 in the second of two consecutive delightful, informative and fun Skype Sessions on February 17, 2010 which can also be accessed by clicking the picture. The first Skype session was with Kathy Cassidy and can be accessed in the post just below. Ms. Hines addressed many topics of interest including the use of smartboards, using technology with fourth graders, blogging, the acceptance of technology as a teaching tool, the reactions of students and parents, the use of technology in sports classes, the value of her PLN and the importance of Twitter. EDM310 students: If you were not present when this was recorded, watch this movie (34:42). Leave a comment here.

Ms. Kathy Cassidy Skype Conversation 2/17/10

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.

Room 7 Says Thank You EDM310

Room 7 in Pt. England School, Auckland, New Zealand says thank you EDM310.
Here is a Tweet from Ms. Jenny She, Room 7's teacher:







Click on the picture of Class 7 and you will be taken to the movie they created for EDM310. Or Click Here. Then play the movie and leave a comment on the Class 7 blog. You can also leave a comment here if you are so inclined!

Another Exciting Example From the EDM310 Learning Community!

Two of your classmates, David (Tyler) Mathis (Class B) and Jackie Gorski (Class B), have created a new blog for their EDM310 projects. They have started with their podcast since they had more to say than was contained in the podcast itself.
I HIGHLY recommend that you visit their blog, Mathis Gorski EDM310 Projects, and read their post about their podcast, how they created it, and how they developed and used their PLNs in the process.

If you still are unsure about PLNs, this is an excellent demonstration of PLNs in action. You should also listen to their podcast interview with Eric Langhorst who teaches history in Liberty, Missouri. Note their use of links throughout the blog post. Think about how useful their PLNs have been so far in EDM310.

You can do this too! Try something different! Exciting things are happening in EDM310 as our learning community comes alive!

Working on Your PLN

You should be working on your PLN. Take a look at Twitter as a PLN from the blog What's New In the World

You should be using Twitter. There are 3 important resources available in the Syllabus.

TweetDeck makes Twitter much more useful.
TweetDeck Tutorial from The Broad Brush by Todd Jordan is an excellent tutorial on TweetDeck.

And it looks like WE (that is you and me) should explore ScreenJelly for screen captures. Report what you find.

Wordle by Jonathan Feinberg www.wordle.net

Wrap Week 7

You can listen to this podcast on the University's iTunes site or here is the direct link to the podcast: Wrap Week 7

If you would rather read than listen, here is the text of what I said in the podcast:

Our primary focus this week was on preparing for podcasts which started today and assessing our progress in establishing a Personal Learning Network. We also began Comments4Teachers. I will soon post the two Skype interviews we had with Ms. Kelly Hines and Ms. Kathy Cassidy last week. I just finished listening to both interviews for the third time. They are filled with excellent advice and wonderful insights about PLNs, Twitter, technology, and teaching in general. If you were not present when these interviews were recorded you have another assignment: Listen to them or watch them. They will be on the class podcast in iTunes, the class blog and the USA iTunes for EDM310. Each is between 30 and 35 minutes long.

Finally, and I emphasize finally, 81% of you (114 out of 140) have completed the questionnaire I posted on the class blog two weeks ago. Next week is midterm week. The Midterm Reflection is a REQUIRED examination as specified in the Syllabus (p. 7). By the way, you have seen the search box in the Syllabus, haven't you? That search box is now present in all .pdf documents! Back to the Midterm Reflection. It will be similar to the questionnaire I posted on February 15. HOWEVER, it must be completed by 12 midnight Thursday March 11. If you do not complete it by then you will face SERIOUS penalties!

Failing to do things on time in EDM310 is not acceptable as I have stated over and over and over again! You cannot afford to be late with your assignments and get behind in your work in this class.

If you were on time with the first reflective questionnaire, thank you very much!

So let's take a look at the projects you have to do for this class:
1. Class Blog Well underway
2. Presentation - Completed
3. Comments4Kids - Ongoing. Some kids are being disappointed when they get no comments but for the most part this is going well. We have gotten a large number of thank you messages from teachers and students in the form of emails and blog comments.
4. PLNs - Started
5. Google Docs Form - It is time you learned how to do your Doc and get it underway. The sooner the better. Links to a variety of instructional materials are in the Syllabus. And there is also Google and Google help. Can be done rather quickly after some thought and planning.
6. Skype - using it yet? Very useful!
7. VoiceThread (or Vocaroo) - Time to learn how to use one or both of these tools and to put them to use.
8. Google presentation, VoiceThread or movie for YouTube - Time to get started.
9. Comment4Teachers - underway
10. Timetoast Timeline - an easy assignment. You can get this completed quickly so go ahead and do it.
11. Professional Blog or Collective Blog - I will have more information after the Spring Break. You should be thinking about this as you do the Comments4Teachers assignment.
12. Google Earth project - takes a good bit of time. You should be learning about Google Earth NOW
13. Videocast/Podcast - doing this week
14. Substantive Presentation - will take up much of the time after Spring Break
15. Interview - Short, but takes a bit of time to set up.

Six projects are started or underway. I would suggest that you aim for getting Numbers 5 (Form); 6 (Skype); 7 (VoiceThread or Vocaroo) and 10 (Toast Timeline) done before Spring Break. Or at least mostly done. These four are relatively quick and easy. That will leave five for the second half of the semester.

Again I can't emphasize enough that you should call, email Skype, or SMS with questions. Also ask questions during lab time.

Don't forget the midterm Reflection (Questionnaire ) next week. It will be posted by noon next Monday March 8.

Grades

Several students have asked about grades this week. Let’s start with what I said on pp. 9-10 of the Syllabus:

Your grade is based on the examinations you take, the 15 projects you produce or in which you participate, the formal presentation you make, the critiques you provide of other students’ products and presentations, and your class participation. An A represents Outstanding work; B Above Average; C Average; D Below
Average; F Unacceptable. You must complete all projects ON TIME. Late projects will negatively affect your grade! Dr. Strange will consult with the teaching associates before assigning a final grade.

Everybody starts with an A. If you want to know how to blow that A, just do any of the following and we will probably see you in EDM310 again next semester.

How to blow your A:
1. The failure to satisfactorily complete any of the projects for this course will result in a D or an F and you will have to repeat the course. ALL 15 PROJECTS must be satisfactorily completed to get a grade better than a D in this course. ALL means ALL! In other words, doing 14 (or less) satisfactorily but not 15 projects satisfactorily GUARANTEES that you will get a D or an F for the course.
2. You must correctly complete your Foliotek entries for this course in order to receive a passing grade in this course.
3. You MUST make your weekly posts to your class blog ON TIME (or in advance). Failure to do so will, most likely, result in a VERY POOR (D) grade in this course. DO NOT GET BEHIND IN THIS COURSE!
4. You MUST complete all required posts to your blog INCLUDING the post assigned for May 2, 2010. Failure to do the required post for May 2, 2010 will result in a D or an F in this class.
5. Failure to attend ALL class and lab sessions and the final exam will most likely result in a D or F.
6. Failure to use good grammar, good spelling, and your brain in doing your blog posts will blow your A.
7. Failure to be an active, self-directed learner will also blow that A.
But don’t blow it!

I really don’t like using force to get students to learn. If you are going to be a teacher, you will want your students to WANT to learn. They should not be forced, with threats of bad grades, to learn. I want everyone who takes this class to WANT to make an A and to WANT to do the work that will result in that grade. I want everyone in this class to do A work and get an A! Sadly, that is not the case. The best students do that. The others do not.

It seems to me extremely important that teachers WANT to learn. So if you do not fall into that category, if you are not eager to learn, you should think about a different career!

Now let’s turn to the questionnaire I posted on the Class Blog on Monday February 15 How's My A?. That’s 11 days ago. As of 8 am this morning (2/25/10) 36% of the students still enrolled in EDM310 have not completed that questionnaire. It is, therefore, correct to assume that if final grades were issued today, those who have not answered the questionnaire would not pass this course. I have not closed the questionnaire yet, but I soon will.

Let’s also count. I asked you to do that the first day of class. “ How many times did I say ‘Don’t be late.’ ” So let’s count how may times I said that in the section on grades in the Syllabus. Four. Maybe that was not enough.

Now let’s take a look at what you think about your progress in this course. Nine percent of you think you are not putting forth your best possible effort in EDM310. So...
here are other problem areas where students have not completed their assignments. And these are only those who completed the questionnaire. Forty-seven percent (47%) have not added an RSS feed for the class blog to their iGoogle page. Yes, you can keep up with what is happening on the class blog in other ways. But 29% say they are not reading the class blog daily. That can lead to lots of trouble with that A! Fifteen percent (15%) of those completing the questionnaire said they were behind in their work. So 36% + 15% means that there are far too many shaky or missing As. Forty percent or more have something missing on their blog, or something that does not work. And on it goes.

So what is your grade? You know better than I. Are you participating fully in the educational community I am trying to form in EDM310? Are you putting forth your best effort? Are you doing ALL of your assignments ON TIME? Are you asking for help as soon as you need it? Are you attending all classes and labs? Are you planning ahead, especially for your podcast which starts next week? Are you learning? Are you excited about learning?

You tell me. If Final Grades were distributed tomorrow, what grade would you give yourself? What grade would you give your classmates whose blog posts you read or don’t read because they have not been posted on time?

If you have friends in this course who have not yet understood that I mean it when I say do all your assignments ON TIME, please inform them before it is too late.

And for those of you who are leading the way in creating a wonderful learning community, and I am excited by the fact that this is happening, thank you!

Here is the Preliminary Summary of the Still Have Your A? questionnaire as of 8 am on Thursday February 24, 2010 - eleven days after it was posted on the class blog.

I have been told that should not think that I can undo 15 or so years of schooling which trained you that grades should be your focus and have you suddenly behave like learning was the most important part of being in school. I guess that is correct. But I am going to keep trying!

Can't remember whether you completed the questionnaire? Well... But to make you feel better, I have shared a Google Doc listing all students that had completed the Still Have Your A? Questionnaire by 8 am Thursday 2/25/10. I hope you name is on that list! And by the way, the form reports the exact time you submit the questionnaire in the form of hour:minute:second. Handy for determining exactly what happened when!

The iSchool Initiative

Paula Casallo found a great video on YouTube called the iSchool Initiative. She has posted in on her blog. I will add it to the Blog Assignments for the last half of this semester. Thank you Paula.

This is great. Our "learning community" is beginning to really work with contributions from lots of students. Keep it up!

Wrap Week 6

You can listen to this podcast on the University's iTunes site or by clicking the link Wrap Week 6 below.
Here is the direct link to the podcast: Wrap Week 6
If you would rather read than listen, here is the text of what I said in the podcast:
This week we concentrated on preparing for Podcasts which start next Monday March 1.
We also Skyped with Ms. Kathy Cassidy of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada and Ms. Kelly Hines of Washington, North Carolina. These Skype sessions will be available sometime Wednesday February 24.

On February 15, a week ago today, I posted a questionnaire called Still Have Your A? One week later only 76 of you (54% of those still enrolled in EDM 310) have completed the questionnaire. I guess the rest of you do not read the blog. It is absolutely essential that you read the class blog every day! What more can I say? Since February 15 I have added 16 posts to the class blog. It is in your best interest to have read them. I guess that's all I have to say on this subject. Well, maybe I should add, for those of you not reading the blog, "It looks like I may see you in EDM310 again next semester." But if you are not reading the blog, you won't see this message. Maybe some of your friends will alert you.

This week we also have worked on PLNs. I have added several posts addressing that subject. Your first report on the progress you are making on your PLN is due next Sunday February 28 in a separate post on your blog. Complete instructions are in the Syllabus.

I have just added a new assignment. It is Comments4Teachers. It is explained in a separate post on the class blog. You must read one post of an assigned teacher and comment on the posts on your blog every three weeks.

Podcasts start on Monday.

Plan - Prepare - Practice

Contact each other using Skype or other communication methods. Share your research using Delicious.

Missing - 23 Podcast Students

For some students Podcasts are less than a week away. 23 students have not yet signed up for a podcast topic. Trouble is brewing! Check to make sure you have signed up as instructed. The list of missing students is at the bottom of the Google Docs Podcast Topics Sheet.

A New Project Comments4Teachers

You now have an additional assignment in your Google Docs: Comments4Teachers Weeks 7-9. Here are the instructions as found in the Google Docs Spreadsheet:

Comments4Teachers: You have been assigned a blog to follow for the next 3 weeks. In most cases these blogs are by teachers or administrators in K-12 schools. Go to the blog. Read the most recent blog post on which you have not commented. If it is obviously just a housekeeping post, skip it and move down the post list until you find an appropriate post on which to comment. Leave you comment. Identify yourself and include with a link to your blog. In your first post also include a link to the class blog and a message that you will be summarizing your visits to the blog with a post to your blog on or before March 21. Go to your blog. Create a post in which you either copy your comment or write a summary. Save it. DO NOT Publish it until you have done all 3 comments and have rewritten your post, if appropriate, to report on all that you have read. This is the first time I have made this assignment and I am sure you will find some glitches. Let me know so that I can make this assignment a better one. It is part of an effort to create a meaningful "virtual" field assignment for you. In some cases the authors of these blogs will be posting often. In others you may only be scrolling down to read old posts. Whatever the case, always comment on the most recent post on which you have not left a comment as long as the post is not a "housekeeping post."

This assignment will be repeated (with a different teacher assigned to you) two more times for Weeks 10-12 and 13-15.

You will make a total of 3 posts (one at the end of each 3 week assignment) on you blog summarizing what you have learned from this assignment with appropriate links and comments.

If you have questions, contact me!

Wordle created at the Wordle Place ©Jonathan Feinberg

Another Important Post on PLNs That Will Help You With Yours

Joe Dale has just published this very important reflection on his PLN What Does Your PLN Mean to You? Remember your report on how you are doing, and what you are doing with your PLN is due next Sunday 2/28/10 in a separate post on your blog.

Correction to Blog Assignments

Mandy Sullivan (Class G) noticed that the assignment for last night (February 21) was not working. She was correct. Here is my response to her:

You are the first person who has noticed this - and on the last day before the assignment is due.
I was getting the video from David Hopkins but, when I went to his site this morning, I found out that his site was hacked and he has not restored everything that was destroyed. So I turned to the original source: Apple. The trouble with Apple is that they move things quite often. But the link is working now.

Here are the complete instructions. I have corrected the Blog Assignment Sheet:

2. Find out all you can about iTunes University. Write two or three paragraphs about how iTunes
University might be of help to you as a student or a teacher. Include appropriate links. For an
introduction to iTunesU go to this Apple web site: iTunesU: Learn anything, anytime, anywhere. Then click on Watch the video under the label iTunesU: An Introduction

Thank you very much, Amanda, for calling this to my attention!

Wordle source: www.wordle.net ©Jonathan Fineberg. If you have not tried Wordle yet, do so!

Got A Mac?

I will hold a special workshop for Mac users next Saturday February 27 from 10-12 in our classroom.
If you are interested in learning some of my tips and tricks, let me know. I would like to know if you are coming so I won't drive to Mobile to find no one there.

An iPad For The Kindergarten Crowd

From Dina Tillman (Class C) who says:
Found this iPad for the Kindergarten Crowd while searching for sites for my PLN. These are the toys our children will be playing with, and we are still expected to teach with a pen and paper.

PLN - Michael Fawcett (@TeacherNZ) Offers His Insights

In Class B yesterday we had an extended discussion about PLNs. No doubt because you must report on your progress in establishing a PLN in a post on your blog due Sunday February 28. I had forgotten about this video on the value of a PLN and how to establish one by Michael Fawcett posted on At The Teachers Desk. Check it out!

Some More Words of Wisdom (AND AN ASSIGNMENT) From Dr. Scott McLeod

On February 13 I added a post entitled Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff, Please?. This has generated a good discussion (14 comments at the moment) and Dr. McLeod has joined in the conversation. In case you haven't gone back to check the comments on that post, I want to call special attention to Dr. McLeod's latest comment. This is what he wrote:

"I have been following your comments, both here and at my blog. Many of you seem pretty fearful about children and adolescents accessing the Web. I encourage you to read through a few posts of mine to maybe reframe your concerns a bit (you can search for any of these by post name at Dangerously Irrelevant ):

Fear

The One Percent Doctrine

From the Head of Zeus

I'd Like An Idiocy Filter, Please

I Don't Like Internet Filters

Online Predators: Overblown Threats

See also my article for School Administrator, Blocking the Future

See also Educating Trumps Blocking, by Kim Moritz."

In my post of February 13 I asked you to find out who Scott McLeod is. Did you do that? If not do it!

Read his posts which he has suggested above. His assignment is a good one. And when you find out who he is you will understand why he gives good assignments to a class like this!

I have made it easier for you to find his posts by making the titles links. He suggested you search for them. That was an excellent suggestion. But to make it even easier I have done that for you!

I Need My Teachers to Learn

This was found and shared by Amy Stork. It is exactly this kind of sharing that I want to happen in EDM310. We are a real learning community when that happens.

Thanks Amy! Thank you very much.

Now another lesson from this. Here is another version of pictures added to this song:


Sofor a movie or a podcast you could write a song, or use one in the public domain and add your own pictures to music. Try it if you would like to. If you have any questions about how to do it, ask.

Thanks again Amy for stimulating this idea and this discussion!

Problems With Comments4Kids This Week?

Assignments for many students in Classes A and B have been corrected. If you were having trouble doing your assignment this week I think I have corrected the problem. Please let me know of any other difficulties that you are encountering.

Personal Learning Networks

Rachael Locklin (Class C) found this post by Vicki Davis yesterday. You remember Vicki Davis from Georgia, right? Her blog post is Personal Learning Networks are Virtual Lockers for School Kids. I recommend that you read it since you will soon have to report on your PLN.

This is an example of how we learn together. Thanks Rachael.

Also, if you are using Delicious, and I hope you are, you might be interested in my collection of PLN articles and posts. They are here:
Dr. Strange's Delicious Bookmarks on PLN.

Blog Assignments Have Changed

If you are "green," I have changed the Blog Assignments for February 28 and March 7. The link on the class blog will take you to the new assignments.

If you printed the blog assignments, throw the old version (1.1) away and download the new version (or be "green" and use it from the net).

PLN, Twitter, TweetDeck and ScreenJelly

You should be working on your PLN. Take a look at Twitter as a PLN.

You should be using Twitter. There are 3 important resources available in the Syllabus. TweetDeck makes Twitter much more useful.
Here is an excellent tutorial on TweetDeck.

TweetDeck Tutorial from The Broad Brush by Todd Jordan.

And ScreenJelly. You should sign up. You will make use of this several times before the semester is over.

Wrap Week 5

You can listen to the Wrap for Week 5.

You can get the Wrap for Week 5 from the USA iTunes site.

Or you can read a written version of what I said:
I keep harping on the same things. Read the class blog daily. Keep up with your assignments. Think ahead. There are a lot of projects to complete before the end of the semester. Use your time to learn new things. The syllabus is loaded with instructional materials to help you learn new tools including Vocaroo, adding pictures and links to your blog, adding links in comments, making pictures you add to your blog compliant with accessibility standards, creating and expanding your PLN, using Twitter effectively. Do not wait for me to tell you to do something. You have the materials listed in the syllabus. Work ahead. Master the tools you will be using in the rest of the semester.

This week we concentrated on two things. The first was podcasts. You have now listened to a number of podcasts. For most of you, podcasts were new. And most of you began to see the many instructional uses they may have. Two weeks from today, starting on March 1, we will record podcasts in class. You can record yours outside of class with an instructor's approval. Some of you are trying vodeocasts. That is great. You will get a head start on making movies. I might note, however, that I sometimes listen to videocasts without watching the pictures. The pictures often do not add much to my understanding. That is not always true, but it is often true. Try it yourself.

Here's what you should be asking yourself about your podcast:
1. Do I have a team?
2. Do I have a topic?
3. Is my team creating a plan?
4. Are we collecting materials?
5. Have we started practicing?

Many of you listened to podcasts that you thought needed improvement. Now you have a chance to improve your podcast. But you must get started NOW!

The second effort this week was to add a link for email and a link to the class blog on your blog. And to check the links to make sure they work. Do you have both links working?

The class is 1/3 over (we have completed 5 weeks out of 15). It's time to assess our progress. I have added a new questionnaire to the class blog. Please complete it immediately.

In Week 6
Plan - Prepare - Practice Your Podcast

And in Class A on Wednesday February 17 we will be Skyping with Ms. Cassidy from Moose Jaw, Canada at 2:00 and withMs. Kelly Hines from Washington, N.C. in Class E at 4:30. Everyone is welcome to come to these sessions. Classes A and E especially: Come prepared to talk with these two great teachers. Ask questions, Enagage in dialogue. Don't just sit like bumps on a log.

That's the wrap for week 5.

How's My A?

You are required to complete the following questionnaire as soon as you see it. Yes, part of this requirement is to see how often (and when) students go to the class blog. Another part is to see if they read it. Another is to see if they follow instructions. You will invent similar techniques as a teacher. Remember, click the SUBMIT button only once.

Click to Answer the Questionnaire.

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?

Read this post: Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? by Scott McLeod. Leave him a comment. You also might want to comment here!

And just who is Scott McLeod? Find out!

Using Technology in the Classroom - Not

This is rather funny. Well, it might not be to some teachers. Perhaps it will give you an idea or two for a podcast or videocast. It's worth the 6:00 for laughs alone.

From The Educator's PLN. The primary writer was Joe Borrego. See the film credits for a list of all involved.

An Excellent Videocast Idea. You should watch.

A palindrome reads the same backwards as forward.
This video reads the exact opposite backwards as forward.
Not only does it read the opposite, the meaning is the exact opposite.
This is only a 1 minute, 44 second video.
Make sure you read as well as listen to the entire video.
You will hear and see it forward and backward.
This video won second place in a contest sponsored by AARP.

The author is a college student who was 28 when she made it. She is now 30. Here is what she wrote about the video:

I guess I should finally get around to putting something here. I am surprised that it has received so much attention recently.

This video was created for the AARP U@50 video contest and placed second.

It is based on the Argentinian Political Advertisement "The Truth" by RECREAR
Thanks to joezandstra for posting it as a video response. If you would like more info about the video [which inspired my video ]you can find it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFz5jbUfJbk

The two songs are
Mind things
Our Lifes, Our Destinies

t r y ^ d
Beauty
... are available for free through the creative commons license and on the site http://www.jamendo.com/en/."

Wondering who won? You could look it up! Amy Stork did! Here is the link: U@50 1st Place Video
Thanks Amy for completing the Let's find out half of "I don't know. Let's find out."

Wrap Week 4

You can listen to this podcast on the University's iTunes site or by clicking the link Wrap Week 4 below. If you want to try using the USA iTunes site, which I recommend you try, click on USA/itunes. Click on Open USA iTunes. Click on Instructors under College of Education. Click on Course (will change to EDM310 soon) under Dr. John Strange.

Here is the direct link to the podcast: Wrap Week 4
If you would rather read than listen, here is the text of what I said in the podcast:
The big event this week (other than the Saints winning the Super Bowl) was Presentation Day (or days).
So what is next?
1. Embed your presentation on your blog if you have not done so already. Don't know how? Open your presentation, Go to Share. Go to Publish. Publish your presentation. When you do so you will be provided with embed code in the lower left corner of the window. Copy that code. Paste in a blog post. Add a Title. You have embedded your presentation in your blog post.
2. Your comments4kids are being noted. See the post immediately below this one. Try to do your comments4kids assignment as soon as it is released each week. Week 5 was just added to your Google Docs this morning. Don't forget. You must post a brief summary of the comments4kids assignment you complete each week. Do this as soon as you make your comment to your kid. And remember - often comments are moderated, especially in K-8. If your comment does not immediately appear it is probably being moderated and will appear as soon as the teacher approves it.
3. Read the class blog daily! I can tell that this is NOT happening. If you do not read this blog daily you will miss important assignments and fall behind in this class which you cannot afford to do!
4. Have you completed the new questionnaire I asked you to complete on February 1 and reminded you about on Feb 5? If not, go to the Feb 1 post and complete it NOW!
5. Is your picture now at the top of the small column on your blog? If not, do it now!
6. Have you formed your Podcast team? Have you selected your podcast topic? If not, you should do that quickly. March 1 will be here before you know it. To successfully complete your podcast you must Plan, Prepare and Practice.
7. Don't understand something? Call, Skype, email, SMS or Tweet any member of the staff. Or bring it to lab so we can help in person!
8. Several people have complained that something didn't work, especially the calendar. In most cases it was because you were using Explorer. DO NOT use Explorer!
9. Familiarize yourself with iTunesU on iTunes and on the University site. Remember that the podcast version of this Wrap can be found weekly on the USA iTunesU!
10. Have you added an email link to your blog in the small column of your blog? You should do so now. If you have questions we will cover it in this week's lab time.
11. Have you added a link to the class blog on your blog? You should do so now. If you have questions we will cover it in this week's lab time.
12. Read this blog EVERY DAY! It is very important that you do so.

Thanks From Ms. Deyenberg

I just received the Twitter messages above.
Great Work Class!

New Questionnaire Needs Responses

Less than half of you have responded to my request to complete a new questionnaire.It was posted 5 days ago. Please complete the questionnaire immediately! See the post for February 1 below. It has the same picture as this post.

Thank you!

Podcast Topics Now Available

You should now have a document titled Podcast Topics Spring 2010 in your Google Docs which you can edit. All of the instructions are on the spreadsheet, but I will repeat them here for reinforcement.

1. Form a Team of 2 or 3 students
2. Select a Subject (or do 2 then 1)
3. List Team Members on row of topic you select.
4. Put your class letter in Column D. If you are in different classes, indicate who is in what class.
5. Change the color of your row to red to indicate it cannot be used again.
6. Contact any staff member if you need help.
7. Interact with your classmates using any technology including Skype
8. Use Google Docs to prepare your storyboard or script
9. Share your research by sharing web sites relevant to your topic using Delicious

Podcasts (or Videocasts if you want to do video) should be about 10 minutes long. Videocasts might be better at about 5 minutes, but use your judgement. If I were doing video I would aim for no more than 5 minutes in the final product. Jim Fawcett, Mr. Sullivan and Dr. Strange are probably the best video resources for video. Ms. Averitt, Mr. Tashbin and Mr. Sullivan have had great success with podcasts.

Plan + Prepare + Practice = Podcast!

Podcasts will be recorded in Week 7. (March 1-4) That means you should start immediately since you will have to do research, plan your podcast with your team members, and PRACTICE. If you are doing a video, speak to one of the staff members about a possible extension of time.

START NOW

Mr. Needleman Skypes EDM310 1/26/10

Mathew Needleman Skypes EDM310 on Tuesday 1/26/10. This is the second semester that Mr. Needleman has graciously visited our class. Mr. Needleman's Mr. Winkle Wakes and Steal This Preso are two of his videos he has published on YouTube. He also publishes a blog Creating Lifelong Learners and in addition has a website Video in the Classroom.com which provides users with examples of his students' movies as well as many tips for teachers wishing to have their students create videos or movies.

It is a great honor to have Mr. Needleman visit our class and discuss Mr. Winkle Wakes with us! Thank you Mr. Needleman!

You can hear Mr. Needleman's comments here (12:03) or USA students can go to the USA iTunesU page for EDM310 and access the podcast there.

Wrap Week 3

You can listen to this podcast on the University's iTunes site or by clicking the link Wrap Week 3 below. If you want to try using the USA iTunes site, which I recommend you try, click on USA/itunes. Click on Open USA iTunes. Click on Instructors under College of Education. Click on Course (will change to EDM310 soon) under Dr. John Strange.

Here is the direct link to the podcast: Wrap Week 3
If you would rather read than listen, here is the text of what I said in the podcast:

In Week 3 we had our first lab sessions. Quite an experience for me since I really did have to be quiet and just respond to questions. I tried, but was not perfectly still since I had to share my feelings about the changes taking place with someone. And students sitting in front of you are always an easy target for a speech. I will write more about it in Dr. John Strange's Strange Thoughts, my blog of musings.

Your tasks were:
1. To move forward on your presentations which will start today
2. Regularly read new posts on the class blog
3. Add your picture to your blog
4. Move it to the top of the column in which it resides on your blog
5. Continue to think about your PLN and how to develop it
6. Complete your preparations for your intellectual journey if you had not already done so
7. Learn how to use Audacity and practice your presentation before you actually present in class
8. Begin using Delicious
9. Think about podcasts and what makes them good or bad
10. Comment on other student blogs

Next week (Week 4) you will:
1. Give your presentation in class
2. Create a podcast team and select a topic for your podcast. (A list of suggested topics will be available on or before 6pm Wednesday 2/3)
3. Begin the comments4kids project. Assignments are now in your GoogleDocs
4. Begin gathering information for your podcast
5. Share your information with your teammates using GoogleDocs, Delicious and Skype
6. Answer the new Questionnaire posted on the class blog on Monday 2/1/10

Remember - Questions are more important than answers. Ask any of us. Call, Tweet, Skype, SMS, email. But Sunday 2/7 starting about 3pm all my attention will be turned to the SuperBowl. Go Saints!

Another Questionnaire

I have read many of your posts for the 1/24/10 blog assignments. They were very interesting and raised many questions in my mind about teaching. Please complete this questionnaire. Remember, click the SUBMIT button only once.

I will report the results.

Click to Answer the Questionnaire.

Comments4Kids Begins

Comments4Kids begins today and will continue most of the semester.
As you start this series of assignments, there are several things you should know and understand.
Objectives and Importance of Comments4Kids
I consider Comments4Kids as one of your most important assignments. Why? because you will 1) meet and interact with teachers and children from all over the world; 2) see how differently blogs are used by teachers and kids; 3) develop and expand your Personal Learning Network (PLN); 4) practice using blogs with kids; 5) encounter reflections by students and teachers on their activities and learning events; 6) get additional practice in reflecting upon and reporting on what you are learning.
Why Are Blogs and Commenting on Blogs So Important?
You will have an assignment, a rather long assignment compared to those you have encountered previously, which will guide you through the experiences of EDM310 in the Fall 2009 semester. I have called this Kaia and Room 10: Why Blogs and Commenting on Blogs are So Important. You can start this assignment now if you wish. Be sure to follow the links in this recounting of a most exciting adventure. Come back to it later if you do not complete it all at once. I think you will understand why I am so committed to blogs and commenting on blogs when you review these two stories.
How Do You Know Your Assignment?
You will have later today (2/1/10) in your Google Docs a document called Comments4Kids Assignments Week 4. Open that document, find your name, find your assignment. There are several different kinds of blogs you will encounter in comments4kids this semester. Some blogs will have posts written for the class by the teacher. These I call Post For Class. Sometimes these posts are by students. I call them Post for Class By Students. In both cases you will see a number to the right of the Blog Type. Count DOWN and comment on the appropriate post.
Some blogs will have a list of students, or aliases for students. These will be links to student blogs, or some "space" that acts like an independent blog for the student. Students will have multiple posts. This is like EDM310. You will be assigned to a student (the first number) AND a specific post of that student (second number). Count DOWN to find the correct student and/or post of that student.
In some weeks you may not be assigned to comment on a kids blog. Instead you will comment on a teacher's blog. This type is called Teacher's Blog. How surprising! The objective in this case is similar. I want you to see how teachers use blogs to reflect on their professional activities and how they share their insights and experiences with other teachers. I hope that you will find these blogs useful your entire career and that you will be a participant in professional blogs when you become a professional. Belinda Flucker is an example of an EDM310 student continuing to blog. If you have any questions about the value of her blogs, ask her! And remember, Project 11 is designed to have you create a blog that you will continue!
Rules for Comment on Kids Blogs
Take a look at the instructions Mr. C has provided to his kids (5th/6th graders) about blogging. He has found out something about the blog, the class, the teacher, the assignment. He did that for his students. I make that a part of your assignment. So be a detective. Figure out what you can about the teacher, the class, the assignment. This will help you determine what to say. Next, you need to know how to say it. Take a look at Wesley Fryer's suggestions in his wiki. He discusses them in Constructive Commenting with Social Media. Be nice, be constructive, AND tell who you are. Leave your name. Identify yourself as a student in EDM310. You can add at the University of South Alabama if you want. Also leave the URL of your blog and invite comments on your blog. Oh, by the way, who is Wesley Fryer? I asked you to be a detective and find out these and other things. Well, you could look for clues or links on the blog or wiki. You could also search in Google. Try it. Don't forget, one of your responsibilities is to be a detective. Look around. Open your eyes. Don't try to do this assignment quickly, routinely, without some thinking and effort on your part. If you are going to be a professional teacher and learner, you must practice being a professional.
Post About Your Comment4Kids
Tell your classmates about your comment4kids experience. There are two reasons for this: 1) it helps me insure that you did this assignment and that some kid in a class is not left out when his classmates get comments from Alabama and he does not; and 2) reflecting and sharing on what you do and learn is an important part of becoming a professional teacher.
Neither your blog comments nor your post have to be long. They just must be meaningful.