EDUC Blog Post #4

EDUC 3100 Blog #4

Through this semester assignments I have learned much about myself and the different programs that have been used in our Technical Application for Teachers class. There are several resources I plan in using in my future classroom, Prezi, the podcast and, a digital story, are just a few that will be covered. The effort exerted on my behalf, dealing with these programs has been efficient enough to familiarize myself with them.

The value of my familiarization with these programs is insurmountable. They all have their place in the classroom and sometimes, at home. These applications allow the student to become better suited to understand different course material. It could be as simple as the students being able to pay more attention to a Prezi presentation rather than death by power point. Maybe instead of writing a 10 page research paper I could, one day, have my students put together a 10 minute digital story.

All of these applications are nice. However, they do not take the place of a great teacher. I do believe they have the capability to make a good teacher, a great educator. The world is moving into a new technology savvy age. Even young children have smart phones and, they know how to use them. Why not use this fact to one’s advantage.

I have enjoyed this class immensely. There are applications I am now familiar with that I fully plan on implementing in my own classroom. Prezi being the main one I have come to enjoy. It is different and can be somewhat entertaining. If there can a happy medium, where these applications can be used as an enhancement rather than a crutch, then the student can learn as much as you want to teach them. If used as a crutch, these featured are no good.

The Universe is not infinite

Weather the universe is finite or not, is a question that made has asked since ancient times and, probably before. Many people do believe now, the universe most definitely has an end or, what we think is an end. New ideas that back this theory are the Dark Flow theory, the soccer ball theory and, the Balloon theory. Many times, things can be explained away as “just a theory”. But once in a while, a theory is presented that cannot be ignored.

The simplest proof the universe has an end is the Balloon Theory. This theory states that if the Big Bang really happened as science believes, the universe is like a balloon. Last time I checked a balloon has a definitive mass. If the universe is expanding, then it must have an end. The question arises, will the universe simply “pop” one day? Maybe it will and maybe it will not. According to the Big Bang theory, the universe spread itself out at a rapid pace in the beginning. As the universe expands however, the expansion will slow down due to the amount of energy exhausted from thirteen million years ago until now.

The universe is finite and bears a rough resemblance to a soccer ball or, more accurately, a dodecahedron, a twelve sided volume bounded by pentagons. Based on analysis of maps of the Big Bang, that space is kind of like a twelve sided hall of mirrors, in which the illusion of infinity is created by looking out and seeing multiple copies of the same stars. The theory also states if you were to reach the end of the universe, you would simply come out on the other side of the universe, without knowing that you ever reached the end.

The Dark Flow theory provides the most tantalizing idea. It states : the motion of the galaxy clusters. With respect to the cosmic microwave background should be randomly distributed in all directions. However, analyzing the three year Wilkenson Microwave Anisotropy Probe(WMAP) data using the kinematic Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect, astronomers Alexander Kashlinky, Atrio-Barandela, D. Kocevski and, H. Ebeling found evidence of a surprisingly coherent 600-1000 km/s flow of clusters toward a twenty degree patch of sky between the constellations of Centaurus and Vela. In this twenty degree patch of sky as it pertains to the Cosmic Microwave Background is colder than the rest. This flow of clusters consist of star, planets and, nebulae. Something is pulling them toward this twenty degree patch of sky. Many believe that our universe is close enough to a larger universe and, the gravity of the sister universe is pulling on ours.

These are all theories to contemplate. Inevitably these theories cause people to think outside the box and, their comfort zones. Dark Flow, Soccer Ball and, the Balloon theory are at least interesting enough to cause someone to research them on their own.

Inspiring Young Minds

Before this semester I have never used a blog or a wiki in class or, anyway else. Honestly, I did not have a use for them. With the beginning of this semester I was asked to keep up a blog for my Advanced Composition and this Technology for Teachers class. The item I have found most fun this semester is writing on my blog. It is my chance to write whatever I want.

Anthony Kiedis' biography "Scar Tissue" 

In my future classroom, I will require my students to keep a blog. This blog will allow them to get out feelings they may not be able to say and, the use of the blog will further their writing skills. Also, many students need to be challenged in literary areas. An example of this is Anthony Kiedis, the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. While a junior in high school, his English teacher made her class write in a journal everyday for 10 minutes. One day, his teacher told him after class that he had a special skill for writing music. That is how The Red Hot Chili Peppers were born. I hope to inspire a young mind to greatness one day.

Another great tool is Poplet. Poplet is a great tool for brain-storming. This piece of technology is a great outlet for throwing ideas onto a screen so they are right in front of you. This would allow the students write their ideas out for any kind of creative writing or, research project. It fast and easy. 

My New Views on Technology in the Classroom

My technology application class has shown me new tools and how to use those tools. Before this class I had no clue what Prezi was. I didn’t know what a "

Prezi screen. Photo courtesy of Clutchchange.com

Popplet" was. The one item that has jumped out to me the most is “Prezi”. Prezi is nothing more than a glorified version of power point.  Prezi has all the bells and whistles that power point lacks. The Army introduced me to the term, “death by power point”; a notion, which will not be lost when I do become a teacher or, even a professor to young minds.  Prezi is easier to look at and pay attention to.

My greatest challenge in the classroom dealing with technology will be my willingness or lack of willingness to use new technology. For example, E-Text books are not my favorite piece of technology, because I believe in the student reading real books.  A real book can never lose power, crack, or be broken. This may be my over confidence in my own teaching skills. It probably is.

I do plan on staying up to date on new technology in my classroom, to the best of my ability. Seminars, books, and, papers are always coming out about this subject. Maybe I will attend one seminar a year. Something I believe teachers should do anyway, due to the ever-changing technology out there for the classroom. Of course, it will be at my discretion as to what technology I use in my classroom and what discard. 

TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM

Photo courtesy of amycates.wordpress

Technology in a classroom setting can be traced all the way back to the invention of the writing utensil.  To put it simply, technology can make the learning experience easier for everyone.  From the invention of the pencil, to the avocation of the chalk board and, the projector, all of these make teaching and learning an easier task.

I am old enough to remember chalk boards in classrooms. We used to fight over who cleaned the erasers out.  The next step in classroom technology I witnessed was the dry erase board; this board was a little less messy. Now, the teacher use smart boards and power point presentations to interact with students.  Soon students will not need books or even paper. Computers are probably the most widespread technology used in today’s classroom and, that fact is rapidly changing. 

Picture courtesy of OregonState.edu

On the flipside, we cannot get lost in the use of technology as a way to dumb down students. Teacher CAN NOT only rely on the technology to teach students. Teachers will always have to teach. Technology is a great tool for students, teachers and, even parents.  I fear that if technology is taken too far in the classroom, school districts will try and phase teachers out and, replace them with a computer.  This scenario cannot happen,  no technology could replace a teacher. 

Behind The Lyrics

Andrew Schwab

One of my favorite song writers of all-time is Andrew Schwab.  The way he is able to use metaphor to get his message across is pure genius.  One of his best written works is the album “Truthless Heroes,” which tells a story of one man’s life from childhood to his demise.  The record was written as a concept album, which tells a story. My favorite lyric, Schwab ever wrote reads, “They give you a pill, then remove your heart and, replace it with a battery.” The lyric has been a great influence on my life. Concept albums are a risky business in the music industry due to lack of understanding by the public. For example, the first song on the record, entitled “Little Green Men,” is not about some vast alien invasion. The song is about a boy playing with little green Army action figures.  In an interview, Schwab stated the album was “about me and my own inner struggle with fame.” That quote was hard to pull from him, due to his secrecy concerning the meaning of the album. Schwab wants his listeners to decide for themselves the meaning of his lyrics.

Christopher Martin

Christopher Martin stated once that he never wrote a song in which he emotionally involved, until he met one man, Johnny Cash, who told the talented lyricist that it was impossible to write a truly great song without being emotionally involved in the lyrics. The truth is, this kind of thing happens all the time. Many of today’s popular artists either have someone else write the songs or poorly throw words together and call it a song. The art of writing great music is a dying art. There are many reasons for this, but the main reason is the music industry itself is a difficult place to break into. Musicians today use many fluff lyrics that have no meaning at all, because that sales albums. Bono once stated at an award ceremony, “If we started our band today, we would not make it due to the present nature of the music industry.”

Tim Mcilrath

Political lyrics are often polarizing to listeners and, in some instances, can break up a band. Rage Against the Machine is a great example. Even though this band’s success was worldwide, the success wasn’t enough to hold the band together. Rise Against is another example of a band that has politically savvy lyrics. Leader singer and song writer Tim Mcilrath once stated, “We all have a moral obligation to leave this world a better place than the world that we've found." This feeling bleeds through their lyrics across every album they have created.

 Song lyrics can cut to the core of anyone’s soul if they are open to the meaning. They have the ability to make us cry, get angry, motivated and turn our brain on. I implore listeners to sit down and read the lyrics of some of their favorite songs, think about the meanings and what the lyrics mean.