Blog Post #2

Mr. Dancealot
The central message of this video is lecture based teaching is not always the best way to teach a class. Mr. Dancealot was teaching a dance class using power-points. He demonstrated how to do the dance steps standing behind the podium where the students could not see. When a student stood to practice the dance steps Mr. Dancealot he told the student to sit back down. The author proves his case by showing at the end Mr. Dancealot gives his students a final exam the students where clueless about which dance they needed to perform and also how to perform the dance. I agree with the author's conclusion. I agree because there many classes that require the students to be hands-on and self learners.



Teaching in the 21st Century
Roberts think that teaching in the 21st century means that teachers are no longer the source of knowledge, but are now the filter. Robert gives many arguments on how teachers are now the filters of knowledge like teaching the students to handle the resources,by showing them how to use the technology correctly, validate information, and synthesize information. Teachers are filters of knowledge because they challenge the students to use technology to solve problems, this is done by assigning home work and class work, also by assigning projects that use blogging, podcast, animating, planning, recording, and designing. The last way teachers are now becoming the filters of knowledge is classroom management. Teachers manage the classrooms that now have laptops, cell phones, and iPods the same way as the classrooms that are using paper, pencils, and text books. I feel that the way Roberts sees teaching changing is very likely to happen. I feel this way because the demand for the use of technology in the classroom is increasing day-by-day. I do not fully agree that teachers should no longer be the main source of knowledge. I believe that teacher should continue to be the main source with the assistance of technology. If Roberts is correct the only affects it will have to me as an educator would probably incorporating the high demand of technology usage in my teaching style. I know that the world is evolving, and I may not agree with all the new changes but I look forward to Teaching in the 21st Century.



The Networked Student
While watching this video it put me in the mind of EDM310. The networked student is a self-learner. He has a project to do, but instead of the instructor teaching the knowledge the networked student went out and networked and built his own data base based from the information he had gathered. In the video it talked about the networked student listening to the best professors in the country lecture about the topic he was researching, this was when I thought to myself, "he does not need his teacher". I realized that his teacher is not there to give him the information about the topic he was researching, she is there to assistance and support.



Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
The thesis of Davis' video is to encourage your students to use any source of technology to learn. Although, before I watched this video I was still kind of against the idea of children using technology to learn instead of the teacher teaching. Davis shows first hand how using technology keeps the students more enthused about learning. After watching this video I am totally open to the major use of technology in the classrooms.



Flipping the Classroom
I had never heard of flipping the classroom before watching this video. I really do not know if flipping the classroom with be useful to me as a teacher. I think flipping the classroom could possibly be useful for the students who need extra help. I think that there are more things at home that could distract the students like siblings,pets, and toys. I was also wondering at what grade level does flipping the classroom starts?