Blog Post #2: "What Will Teaching in the 21st Century be Like?"

"What Will Teaching in the 21st Century be Like?"

By: Noah Armstrong

1. In "Mr. Dancealot" the main theme is that the lecture style of teaching is not the most effective of techniques for every class. For example a dance class as in this video would best be done in a more hands on visual and kinetic style. In the video the teacher simply lectures with a PowerPoint presentation. When he does demonstrate steps his feet are obscured by his desk. In the end none of the students really know what to do when it comes time to dance because they have never actually done any of them. I agree whole heatedly that not all classes can be taught from behind a podium. I would go as far as to say that none should rely solely on the lecture method, but should instead blend more than one approach to try to reach a greater number of students who are bound to have the full spectrum of learning personalities.

2. Mr. Roberts seems to think that we should use the technology available to us in this time to engage students in an active learning where they learn to research and form their own opinions to things and then post what they have learned to help others and network with other students. 

Roberts Argument: 

A. If students have access to any information at any time (via Facebook, Google, Wikipedia, ect.) what is the purpose of  a teacher?

B. Teachers are their to teach students how to sift through information form an opinion and reciprocate that opinion.

C. Technology is not a distraction when it is used for learning.

D. This teaching via technology should be used to engage rather then entertain students so they are exited to learn.

I completely agree with teaching via technology as well as teaching students how to learn and  research. With me, who is going into the History field the research and information sifting aspect appeals to me more than the technology aspect for there is only so much you can do when telling the story of the past.   

p.s. I found it ironic that this video talks about technology in education but it was one of the hardest to fallow videos i have ever watched. 

3. The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler 

Can credit really be given to a teacher who merely shows a student how to get information from the internet? i would say not. Sure, this is a lesson that needs to be taught to all student and i can see how a network of experts and peers as well as verified web sights could be a good tool but not as a main system of learning. This type of tool should be used as a supplement to Lectures by a steadily reliable teacher of your own. this way you can receive different ideas and points of view. The teacher in this video seems like nothing more than a research teacher and a proctor in a guided study hall. 

4.Harnessing Your Students' Digital Smarts 

Thesis: Empowering students to be able to help teach each other and collaborate with their classmates and available technologies will reach more than pen and paper can. 

I personally have benefited from peer teaching in my old high school. It allows you to be presented concepts on a level that teachers might not be able to communicate on. 

5. Who Is Ahead In The Learning Race?

Well, it is obvious that the elementary school students are far ahead of anyone in the race. I have noticed for the last few years that students are starting to learn more and more advanced things earlier in their scholastic journeys. I have 3 siblings spaced 2.5, 5, and 10 years behind me and i see that each of me and the older two of them all took Algebra a year after the older one even though we were 2 or 3 years behind in school. i think that this is because as children we are simply more open to new ideas then we are later in life when we have had time to develop our own opinions on things. just look at most preschoolers, they know how to work their moms phone at least enough to get to the games if not better than she does.

7. The dynamic of football doesn't transfer over as smoothly as basketball seems to in this depiction, but i do see things in the film room off South Alabama's O-Line that could transfer over to the class room. When the defense comes up with a new blitz we talk through how we would block it for every play and formation we have. coach has his way that he has drawn it up, however discussion on different techniques and variations of the scheme are welcome.

Bog Post #1: "What About EDM310"

"What About EDM310": The Students Honest Point of View

By: Noah Armstrong 

1. What are the things (if any) you have heard about EDM310?

* I had heard from my academic adviser and other football players that have taken this class that the work load would be substantial. They told me that it was nothing that I couldn't do but it would take up more time than I was used to. With this class being mandatory for teaching I was more than happy to take it on. Teaching and coaching have been my dream since the beginning of high school and anything that needs to be done to get there is just something to be knocked out.    

2. What fears (if any) do you have about EDM310?

* I am slightly concerned about how this class is run using blogs, which is something I don't really have much experience with. However, once I get used to the operation and get into a schedule of dong my work I'm sure that this will be no problem.

3. Compare and contrast EDM310 with other courses you have taken in college or high school.

* The fact that this class is mostly online separates it from most classes I have taken here at South as well as in high school. In comparison to the classes I have had that were online, this class (EDM310) is more spread out. Instead of everything being on one website where you just click on your homework and do it this class is on multiple blogs and emails and so i find it slightly harder to pick up.

 4. What do you think will be the most difficult thing for you in EDM310?

* Like I said, the fact that nothing is all in the same place is difficult. Going back and forth between your blog, the class blog, and the documents that are sent to you gets to be rather confusing and just becomes a jumble of links and multicolored spreadsheets.

5. What is the best way for you to address this “most difficult” aspect of EDM310?

* One could talk to Dr. Strange and or visit the EDM lab to get some help in understanding what it is that they need to be doing. Truthfully it is just a matter of adapting to a knew system and that is just as important a skill as any we can learn in this institution.

   6. What questions do you still have about EDM310? What ideas do you have about how to
address those questions?

* At this point most of my questions have been answered. I am sure that others will develop soon however.

Practice

Practice Post

 Outline
 1. About me.
A. Explain who I am and where I am from
 B. Describe my interests and passions
 C. Introduce my family
 2. Why I am here
 A. How I got to be at South Alabama
 B. why I want to be an educator
 C. What that means to me

 Hi, I'm Noah Ehrhard Armstrong a six foot seven inch, 300 lbs offensive lineman at the University of South Alabama. I will be 20 as of November 3rd 2014. I was born in the small town of Moulton, AL. The problem with that is than none of you know where that is. It is in north Alabama near Birmingham. I love football and music more than anything, I even write songs  in my spare time. I have 3 siblings: Jonah, Sam, and Elise.

I was offered a scholarship by the football team here at South my junior year and when I came to see what the were all about, and when I did I fell in love. I have dreamed of being a teacher and coach ever since I got into high school. I had a history teacher/ football coach that became more of a father figure to me. He was always there when his boys needed him and he would go to bat for us against anyone. My hope is that I can be that for someone one day. I want to be a big part of the development of great men.

in today's world i believe that a teacher is not only to download information to a child as this is something that can be done via the internet. It is instead to teach a child how to learn so that they will be successful in their future schooling and into their career. I think a true teacher does more than this. they can mold the ideals and  caliber of person that that child becomes.

This is my life. Football, it is the sport of men as well as a maker of men.

This sport has made me the man I am and given me the chance to be here.