I’m taking a writing class this Spring term and I’ve had my highs and lows on this journey. I enjoy storytelling, reading, writing, and reading others writing, but my fears hit me head on when it comes to editing. I’m to much of a perfectionist and I know it causes me to doubt my abilities. I am facing my fears; not by choice, but by course! I understanding that writing is critical in my educational pursuit of teaching biology and in life. I believe how a person writes and speaks go hand in hand. When a person says or writes something that makes no since grammatically I instinctively believe their intelligence is missing a peg or three. This unfair judgement of others causes me self-doubt, fear, and bias of my own speaking and writing. I know to get through the uneasiness of speaking and writing I must do it more and more. I love to talk and write even more so I must continue on adventure of reading, writing, and exploring the countless helps available to become a better writer.

It has been a trying 6 weeks for me; I have severe Bronchitis that has flared up my asthma. The joy of learning and obtaining knowledge through these weeks of Technology and Digital Literacy has given a reason to sit at the computer versus laying in bed and sleeping all day! Over the last two weeks we have explored book reviews and my personal favorite, flipped classroom. The technology we have in 2019 is staggering for students and educators so we are all without excuse to teach and apply what has been taught. The book review was interesting because I was so excited about the title, “The Google Cardboard Book; Explore, Engage, and Educate with Virtual Reality. I was not happy that I had to pay $10.00 for the book but my classes are an investment to my future goal to teach high school Life Sciences. The flipped classroom II was another favorite activity and the teaching and implications of learning are endless with this non-traditional approach. My main concern is will the students do the work at home and come prepared for class; if not, the assessment and understanding of material will be dsplayed quickly as the content lesson is explored in the classroom.

The Google Cardboard book was a complete disappointment for me! I was expecting to much based on the title and quickly learned that I have VR at my fingertips; my iPhone. I was blown away that it took six authors to put this book together. The sales pitch for virtual reality applications was endless and I was disgusted that they indicated passing this expense off to parents as a “recommended item” for the school year. Technology is an awesome learning tool that can take us many places from the seat of our classsrooms or offices but to purchase a cardboard, purchase an application, construct the cardboard to appear as a “view finder” from the 1970’s, and charge parents or students to foot the bill, disgusting. The Google Cardboard has no implication for teaching and learning; the many cellular telephones and plethora of apps that can be purchased at a low cost or some free can and do help students explore the World around us. The flipped classroom is a genius way to allow students and parents to be intersactive with the content lessons and what’s expected in the classroom lesson the following day. As a college student I’ve had professors tell students do not ask questions, take notes, and if there are any questions consult the book. Yes, I was in shock when I heard that and I did drop that class! The flipped classroom is an interactive way of learning content and allows students to review as many times as they like and prepare questions if they do not understand lesson content. This method of educating students is a great way to allow them to work at their own pace and be prepared before homework is completed in classroom.

I have had a wonderful day and still riding on my high of observation of a High School Biology class. It was my first time being in a high school in years. My journey over the past two weeks have been encouraging, fulfillling, inspirational, and informational. I am learning so many things about the use of technology in my future classroom and in my day to day life. I feel like I’ve uncovered a hidden gem and I want to share my new found knowledge with anyone who will listen. I’m a people watcher so interacting with strangers is a regular part of my every day.

The Google My Map project was awesome! I ‘d never of it and it helped me realize that many forms of technology are available and will help our students of today become better learners of tomorrow. I enjoyed exploring not just the US but other countries finding element production around the world. There are so many people that live in the bubble called America but the use of exploring countries, their resources, and their ways of life in print or picture was great. The use of Google My Map project will allow students that do not get to travel much, staycations, to explore other places and things. The Makerspace project was interesting but I liked that children will be able to explore, collaborate, question, and ask more questions to learn about things they may have never thought of. The Makerspace allows for the Science and Engineering of NGSS and that’s on track with the schooling of K-12 not in the future but today.

As I ponder over the last couples of week of learning I have been amazed at the technological advances that are used in the classroom. I don’t have any children so I’m not familiar with what students are learning and how they are learning material in the classroom. I’m excited to know that technology is being used to help, assist, and allow students to explore content they are learning and that it does not end when class is over. I’m a 1970’s baby and I’m not to fond of all this technology but over these past weeks I’m am starting to let down my guard and allow my eyes to see educating our children in new and exciting ways that I did not have as a student.

I loved the Flipped classroom! I believe it allows educators to teach the content with more detail and passion since it’s done without the students present. I like that technology will allow students to view and re-review, as many times as needed, the lecture content and that they will be able to understand or come prepared to ask questions. This method of teaching will allow students to be more active in their education inside and outside of the classroom; not just reading a book but having a lecture along with the book. I like that interactions between educator, student and their parent(s) is available through Web 2.0; another use of technology in education that I had never heard of! In 1970’s and 1980’s we had parent conference twice a year and report cards; Web 2.0 is a resource that allows students and parents to know what’s going on in the classroom as much as an educator post information. Learning about Copyright was informative and a much needed conversation that needs to be explored more due to the use of internet access to so many people, places, and things. I thought if it can be accessed I can use it; I know better now and understand why my pictures have the creators name, copyright, always attached. There are so many forms of technology available to educators and students to learn, explore, create, and be informed about whatever content/subject there is an interest in; to learn, grow, and question!

I have learned alot about technology and its use in the classroom over these weeks in class. I’m not a social media user so I feel like I’m learning a new language! Its very interesting and exciting to learn that students interest and wants to be educated in these technological times do matter in education not just the teacher’s plans for the year. The use of technology has scared me due to hackers, my own personal experience of my information and money being stolen and used in another country. I will not be afraid anymore and will use my new found knowledge to teach my students to learn and grow through the use of technology and digital literacy.

I enjoyed setting up a Youtube channel considering I’m borderline addicted to Youtube. I thought the many channels took a great amount of time and investment to do but found out it’s not as much work as I thought. The E-Portfolio was something I had never heard of but with technology I’m not suprised that the paper resume is a thing of the past. I often wonder with people being so dependent on technology what would we do if it all went off line; people would lose their minds! I’m was born in the 1970’s and of course, technology was not for us average folks but we know it was around. I think all this technology alienates people but in learning about the Flipped Classroom and was pleasantly surprised how technology can bring the social butterfly to the front of the class and speak up and “the brain” would make him or herself available to assist others. We’ve come a long way!

I wanted to express my thoughts, feelings, and behavior to my fellow classmates. I have been busy (taking 17 credit hours) but I’m enjoying the knowledge I’m gaining and excited for my future in Education. I”ve noticed that I’m observing students in class with different eyes; not just as a fellow student but as a teacher. I will have to put in the work to complete my short term goal, BA in Educational Studies, and another short term goal, dual creditials and MS; Masters in Biology. It took me a long time to get here and I can already celebrate the joy of becoming an educator.

I thought the article was interesting based on the number of growing class room sizes at colleges and universities. I believed I was the person with the issue about so many students being in a lecture room. It’s reassuring to know that this topic is being looked at for a change in the way things are in 2019. It is not beneficial for any students to not be able to have any direct contact with a professor over a semester. I was told by a prior professor while taking a General Biology that she had a class size of 500 and only knew 18 students by name and face. While at the community college I thought 48 students in a class was alot; I couldn’t imagine not have some form of communication with any professor.

I’m excited to be on the journey of completing my Bachelors degree in Educational Studies at ULV. This has been a long road for me to get to; graduated with Associates in Business Management May 2005. I love my job as an auto adjuster but I’m elated to be pursuing my passion, my career, Biology Teacher! I was speaking to an 8th and 9th grader at church yesterday and asked them about their Biology classes and experience with Science; they both gave me a “funny” look and told me it was boring! I asked them if the teacher made the pursuit of Science/Biology would they be more interested and desire to learn? They both said yes but still had those “funny looks” on their faces. The freshman told me that she has Biology and this is her 2nd semester and all the teacher does is lecture, no engagement of the students or experiments performed, at all! My heart ached to know that in 2019 the the passion I have to learn and educate on Biology is not shared by all in the profession. I understand my information came from some young women but they are what is important, the students. I shared with them I am pursuing my degrees to teach Biology and they asked me to “make it interesting, interactive, and let them experiment, not just read about them!” I plan to do just that on my journey.

Hello fellow classmates and Dr. Perry!
My 1st blog post ever!  I’m scared and excited about my online education.  I will achieve my goal of becoming a Biology teacher at a middle or high school in the Inland Empire area.  I’m struggling creating my blog but I’m determined to complete it.  I’m 46 years old and have decided to change my career path, better late than never!   I plan to learn various ways to make science interesting and thrilling for my future students. I love science and my goal is to help students love science too!  I fear the limitations that are put on students to learn  to achieve a grade versus taking in the knowledge and holding on to it.  I enjoy learning new and specific details about science that people often take for granted; the homeostasis of the body.  It’s amazing to me that we have openings to the outside world, ears, nose, but all the blood stays inside and goes to where it’s needed; without any input from us!  I’m a new Vegan and I’m loving the journey. I love, love, love Scooby-Doo; I have a collection of 50 shows and movies. I’m a veteran; served 14 years in the Army Reserves.  I don’t take a lot of photos and have none to upload but this picture is a representation of who and whose I am.