My Summary of a Bunch of Articles We Had to Read : )

In the article"Why Weblogs" the reality of blogging comes together. It is possible now to get students to like to do work. The computer, as is stated in the article, is seen as "fun" to the students and pens and pencils and paper signify "work." I think that the whole idea behind getting students to like to do work is fantastic-- kind of like a teachers fantasy! The computer is like a trick for us teachers to get students to do work and to like to do it. Now I just need to perfect my computer/ blogging skills and I'm all set!

In the other article we had to read, I was informed that blogging is not only a tool to use in the classroom, but is also being used in "politics, business, and journalism." I may not be very very excited to be using the computer so much, but it is clear that I have to! Who knows in a couple of years, months, days even, what kind of impacts blogging will come to have.

I clicked on another website titled "Remote Access" but the information itself is called "CHAOS THEORY" and it clearly stated how "teachers love control." I think that perhaps this is why I am a bit nervous to be blogging and making podcats and iWeb movies and such, because I do not have a full control over it. But I think with some more learning of these technological advances I will not let "chaos ensue" in my classroom and can even use these tools to benefit my students.

"Fully half of all teens and 57% of teens who use the internet could be considered Content Creators. They have created a blog or webpage, posted original artwork, photography, stories or videos online or remixed online content into their own new creations."
well one thing is for sure as you already know from my blogs-- that's not me! But I do admit however, creating interesting stuff like artwork and photography is a cool thing to do--beats half the other junk that we see on the internet!

The downloading of music is something I definitely partake in. I have become obsessed with ym iPod due to my obsession with music as a whole. I know how to work it well, but I'm sure there are other options on it that I don't even know about.. for instance I do not know how to download videos and television shows that Dr. Reid talked about at our first class. Something I do love and will end on is the "Music Quiz" you can play on it. Under games, "Music Quiz" is this game which the iPod takes any 5 songs from your ipod at a time and you have to guess what the title is and scroll to it and click it. The faster you do it the more points you get.. A lot of fun!

Recent Topic of Interest

I'd like to say that my topic of interest is an exhausting one!
LACROSSE. I play for the lacrosse team here at Cortland, and we just
finished our first week-- or rather just started our second as of
today. It is not only physically exhausting, but to come up with a time
to fit in the endless amounts of schoolwork becomes mentally exhausting
as well.

Although pre-season is brutal, conditioning wise and working the kinks out, the team has a warmmmmm
goal that we look forward to. For spring break we go to West Palm Beach
for Spring Break. It is a great time for our team to bond because we
have our first two games down there and also partake in some other fun
experiences.

After Spring Break what else is there to look forward
to? Well, the Cortland team has had many outstanding accomplishments--
Last year our team went to the Final Four, something that the Cortland
Women's team has never done. The previous year, we went to Colorado for
Regionals, and who knows if I will ever be able to return back there,
so that was definitely an experience. Personally, I have acquired many
awards and such-- but those I do not care to talk about as much because
I never would have received them without the help of my teammates, my
friends, my family.

So, I suppose I can sort of combine two blogs-- My group in class is doing the iWeb thing (creating our own website). I believe our group is going to do a website on the "Extra Curricular Activites @ SUNY
Cortland." I know Theresa is involved with dance here at Cortland, and
I'm sure Barb might have some interesting stuff to add so we'll see how
it goes. Hope everyone is doing well and I will see you all tomorrow.

-Willis

A comment on 'MoSoSo'

If there is one piece of technology that I enjoy and do know how to use, it is most definitely the cell phone. In the first paragraph it states how 21-year-old Brittany Bohnet often uses her phone to take pictures and send them to friends-- this is something that I partake in all the time. If something is funny, I snap a photo of it on my phone and send it to a friend. I went to the beach over winter break (yes it was cold, but I missed it!) and saw a beautiful sunset that I snapped many photos of by using my phone, and continued to make one of those pictures the background on my phone. I may not be too great with the computer, but I love the options that a phone provides.

Still towards the beginning of the article, it is stated that these technologies may be "addictive." Ok...but there are certainly many other pieces of technology that are addictiing as well. The television is probably the most "addicting" piece of technology out there. Even with the computer, we hear about people all the time that are AIM obsessed. Somewhere out there in the web world there is an actual quiz to see "how AIM addicted are you?" I think technology can be an addiction for some, but for the majority, I personally feel that it is just a curiosity. As for the further danger factor of technology, it is all about how it is used. Anything can be dangerous if used in the wrong manner-- even technology.

Responding to the Standards of the NCATE/NCTE Standards

Plain and simple- - Future teachers NEED to be able to utilize the computer (and other forms of media) efficiently. Unfortunatly, a teacher can no longer survive with a pen and pencil. I mean, personally I saw the beginning of this revolution, if you will, in my high school years when the "Power Point" was starting to come about. In a college setting of a lecture class of a 100 some odd students, it seems that the only way to survive is by a power point on a screen so the entire class is able to see and read- - chalk and the chalkboard stand no chance against such a form of technology. The NCATE/NCTE states how teachers now need to, "Help students compose and respond to film, video, graphic, photographic, audio, and multimedia texts [...]" It seems that perhaps these techological advances in the classroom may be more beneficial to students collectively than ever before; NCATE/NCTE discusses a new "wide variety of strategies." To kids these days, it seems technology is more fun than a pen and paper which may be more appealing for a student to want to learn. Afterall, students should not be forced to learn but WANT to.

Hi There

Welcome to my blog,
I am Willis. I Hope to keep this blog as amusing as possible for you guys to read and enjoy; however, that is not a promise! When it comes to technology I am not as high tech as I probably should be. When it comes to technology, the farthest I go is downloading music for my iPOD, text messaging with my cellular phone, e-mailing and instant messaging on the computer. I refuse to conform to facebook. I only have myspace because of my housemate Jennie; she, being very well aware of my aversion towards facebook, myspace, and whatever other cites like those that there are, created a profile for me as a joke that I only check or go on when I have comments or "new friends" (just so people do not think I hate them or am ignoring them.) So, that is about it for now. I am happy to have another class with Stearns, yet I might stuggle a bit! I am sure there are some of you guys who may be a little inexperienced with the computer as I am, which makes me feel better; I am sure we can all help and assist each other because that feels like the kind of environment we seem to be in. Ok, later kids.
-Willis