Merry Christmas!

I got a Kindle from Santa!  I am so excited to start playing with it.  Updates on what I think to follow!

Senior Research Presentation

This is the presentation I gave for my senior seminar class. My topic was on the transition from high school to college for students with Asperger's Syndrome. Obviously the presentation is lacking without my explanation of the slides but I was proud with how it turned out. One of the main reasons I had to post this here was because I was unable to have my class view it in any other way and they needed access to it. Enjoy!

MC 498 Presentation on Prezi

Wikis...and Websites...and Blogs

As I am finding, it is incredibly easy to be overwhelmed by technology - I know I have stated it several times in real life and on this blog. It's so exciting and so intimidating to know the extent of what you can create, share, and discover online. There are many different online resources that are being created and changed daily, but there are some that have been around for a long time. So what is the difference between blogs, wikis, and websites? Obviously, a website is the easiest to understand and most recognizable of these three mediums. It is a location on the internet that provides any type of information. Originally, they were difficult to make and code but they are becoming a lot more user friendly. You don't need to know how to use html or any type of coding to create a personal website thanks to sites like Weebly. So next, wikis. Wikis are very similar to websites but the main difference is that anyone can be invited to share and contribute information to them. They are slightly less professional and polished and there is little to no flexibility in the design of them. The purpose of a wiki is mainly to serve as an online resource and workspace for a specific group. Lastly, we have blogging. Since the days of LifeJournal, blogs have been a type of online journal that individuals can use for everything from everyday rants to organizing social movements. Blogs allow ideas to transmit very quickly in an informal setting. One thing that I see as both a positive and negative is that you are allowed to say virtually anything on a blog. This allows for complete freedom as an author, but also leads to a lot of claims or thoughts with no basis.

This week I spent some time creating a Wiki. I chose to use a site called PBworks. I found it fairly easy to use and easy to edit while I was making the page, but my only complaint would be that the design and creativity level is fairly inflexible. You can put any amount of content on it, but visually it is not as interesting as some sites. I have also continued my work on my website, which I am becoming more and more proud of. I think it will be such a great tool to have at my disposal and something to show off in interviews. It is a smart and professional way to display my skills and interests and I am looking forward to developing it even more. I definitely plan on keeping up with it beyond this class to change with me and my studies. I would also really like to continue using my blog as a way to network with others and organize my thoughts. Hopefully I have enough to say to keep people interested!

Skeptical about the iPad

To be entirely honest, I still don't understand the purpose of an iPad. Is it a laptop or just an over sized iPhone? It seems awkward and bulky, which is very unlike most Apple products, and all around kind of unnecessary. I would like to play around with one to see what the hype is about - if anyone can explain it to me, be my guest. It is really too bad because Apple is very much a company with its finger on the pulse of the next big thing. I guess every single product can't be a huge success. Here is a really interesting article I found by an Education student suggesting ways the iPad could be used in classes. The biggest problem I have with most suggestions for technology integration in classrooms is the complete disregard for issues of funding. Of course I want every one of my students to have a laptop to do in-class research, but realistically I am planning on working in districts that currently have textbooks that are years out of date, so no matter how much I would like to incorporate technology, it just isn't feasible. Such a frustrating dilemma! iPad Stand - Flickr Photo

Click, Click

I hate multiple choice questions with a passion. I think they are meant to confuse and trick students without actually testing knowledge. I dread these types of tests, exams, and quizzes as a student and I have vowed to never use them as a teacher. I view assessments as a chance for students to prove how much they know and understand - it should enforce good things, not punish bad things. I personally think that writing and discussion are the best ways to test knowledge and I plan to use them as much as possible in my future classroom.

This brings me to the idea of clickers. I have had one class while in college that I was required to purchase and use an iClicker for. In case you haven't heard of them, these are hand held remotes that allow everyone to 'click' in an answer to a question. These keyed responses then show up on the screen instantly. There are many different types but the one I used just had options for A, B, C, or D. The idea behind these systems seems good. It allows the teacher to get immediate feedback, if there is confusion it allows for questions, and it is an easy way to take attendance. My personal issue with these systems is that is only lends itself to more multiple choice questions. Of course, as with anything, it can be used creatively to elicit discussion, but unfortunately that is not their prominent use.

I can see many opportunities for uses of Classroom Response Systems (CRS) similar to iClicker in schools but I worry that it breeds a mentality of 'just showing up' without actually comprehending the work. I may be jaded since this is the overall opinion at the college level, but it is not something I would want to start in younger grades. Another negative aspect of them is the expense. In a high school it would be unrealistic for each student to be required to buy them, and for a school district to foot the bill would also be inappropriate. Overall, I am intrigued by CRSs but definitely not converted. Photo

Hmm..

I thought this video was really interesting! I'm not 100% sure if we should trust all of the statistics because I'm not entirely sure where it came from but it is thought provoking and definitely something to think about - enjoy!

MSUMUN

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to participate in my fourth, but hopefully not last, Model United Nations conference on campus. Since I started at MSU I have been involved with an organization on campus that creates, organizes, and staff a conference for high school students to compete as delegates to the UN. When I was in high school, I had heard about Model UN teams and conferences but never chose to participate in them myself. Through James Madison College, some of my friends convinced me to interview to be on the staff when I was a Freshman, even though I had no idea what I was doing. Luckily, they gave me a chance and I completely fell in love with the program. We begin initial conference preparations in October and then work all year to train and prepare ourselves to host high schoolers on campus for the whole weekend. Personally, competing in Model UN is not something that interests me, but being a part of the staff has been a really wonderful experience. It combines my passions for history, social issues, and teaching in such a perfect way. The students, both college and high school, that I work with are the most interesting and engaging individuals that I know. In just the four years I have been on staff I have seen the conference grow into something really amazing. It has become more professional, better respected, and more successful than any of us could have imagined. This year, we had almost 500 delegates from 30 schools and four different states, discussing some of the biggest challenges that face our world today.

This year, I was responsible for a group that, instead of being an official UN committee, was a mock Michigan Senate for the weekend. It was a challenge for us because it had never been done before and went against what most people were expecting at an MUN conference. We were nervous about how it would be received and whether or not the students would understand why we felt that this was an important avenue to explore. The committee far exceeded our wildest expectations in even just the first day. The high school students were prepared, involved, and passionate about their topics. The truly embodied their Senator's positions and eagerly jumped into the topics we had prepared for them (Revitalization of Detroit, Reform in K-12 Education Standards, and Transitions and Innovations for the New Michigan Economy). I am so truly inspired by these students and it just helps remind me that I am doing exactly what I need to with my life. Sometimes it so easy to lose sight of that and being involved with programs such as MSU Model UN has really helped me develop my own passions. Explore our website for more information about the conference.

Getting Jing-y With It

My frustrated battle with technology continues on. The thing that I have noticed most about working with various types of technology is that, for the most part they are created to make a task easier. However, they take several hours to find, register for, confirm, and figure out before you can even start using them. I have created so many new combinations of user names and passwords, my head is spinning. Ultimately, the programs do prove to be useful or time effective, but it always seems to take a lot of trail and error before reaching that point.

I have been playing around with a program called Jing. This is an online screen capture that allows you to take real time pictures or videos of your computer screen as you work on it. The purpose is to create short tutorials or explanations while using certain programs. One really interesting feature that not many other free online programs have is the ability to add a voice narrative as you work.

I found this program incredibly visually appealing and easy to use at first. It's pretty straight-forward because it doesn't perform a huge range of functions. That being said, I was really disappointed when it came time to save and attempt to export the video I had made. Even after watching several tutorials and trying several different things, I was unable to figure out where my projects were saving and how to get them into a usable format. One tutorial gave an explanation for how to embed a file, which I got very excited about. After signing up for yet another program that was meant to house my work in between Jing and it's final destination, I found out there is a size restriction on uploads. The video is of me simply opening Firefox and finding a website. Overall i think this could be a really interesting tool but I can't see there being many instances for use in a classroom.

Fools!

Happy April Everyone - you know what that means...watch out for pranks all day! Leave it to Google, who have a monopoly over most things on the internet, to pull a trick on all of its customers. Not that it was super convincing, but fun nonetheless. Google claimed ot have changed their official name to Topeka to honor the city in Kansas that wants to change their name to Google.

Just for fun and in case you didn't know, the history of playing jokes on April 1st is thought to have come from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Check this out for a list of classic pranks that TV stations, radio stations, and newspapers have played on their viewers.

Digital Stories

The History of the Peace Sign on Prezi

This week I've spent some time playing with various different digital presentation programs that are available online. The one I chose to use is called Prezi. In the most basic sense, it is a really creative and interactive version of PowerPoint. You can still give a cohesive and interesting presentation with pictures and text, but it can be controlled by the viewer so it is more conducive to being shared online (such as in a blog) than only for use as a presentation. It makes the project much more entertaining and interesting to watch and explore than a simple PowerPoint.

I chose to put together a very brief project on the history of the peace sign. The idea behind it was for a lesson on counter culture of the 1960s. I really enjoy planning lessons that employ collaborative learning. There is that old adage that you learn more by teaching others, but I really do believe it is true. I like the idea of having students research something specific in groups and then sharing it with the rest of the class. This could be incorporated into a current US History class (usually 10th or 11th grade). I would be really interesting to hear how effective my sample presentation was. Since I know the full narrative in my head, I would like to know if I was able to convey the information with minimal text.

Overall I really enjoyed using Prezi. It was a little bit difficult to get used to the different wants to manipulate text and pictures because it is so different from any other program. Also, there are several tutorials on the site but once you enter the design template there is not much assistance. Some of the sample presentations on the site are really amazing but they unfortunately require a higher (i.e. you have to pay for it) version of the program. I'm looking forward to playing with the site more to see what else you can do with it. I think the future I would make sure I pick a topic that lends itself to using a lot of visuals. The peace sign was an interesting idea but I didn't realize that pictures for it would not vary much.

Final 4!!

Huge weekend on campus for so many reasons (look for a post later about some of them)!! The MSU Men's Basketball team is going to the Final 4 in Indianpolis next weekend. I, admittedly, am not the biggest sports fan but I completely understand the excitement and school spirits it breeds. I love that everyone is so supportive and so proud of the school's team. It couldn't be any better press or publicity for our university (especially given the fiasco regarding the football team just before our bowl game in January). As I come closer and closer to graduation I am realizing even more how important my connections to this university are. I am so happy for the team and excited to watch them play. GO GREEN!! GO WHITE!! Photo: State News

Flying with Google Earth

This week I spent some time exploring and playing with the Google Earth download available through Google. I've heard so much about it and seen it used mostly just for fun. Now that I have downloaded it I've realized what an awesome tool it could be in a classroom. With budget cuts and funding in schools being revoked, as well as the logistics usually involved, field trips are scarce at every level of school, but Google Earth would enable me to take a class half way across the world to look directly at some of the things we are studying. They have really neat historical and location features that I could use to show landmarks, geographical areas, cities, and interesting sites that correspond with lessons. This goes nicely with the last TPACK exploration that I did about virtual field trips as well. To pair a virtual tour of the Smithsonian with a walking tour of downtown Washington D.C. and the Smithsonian museums would be an incredibly effective lesson without leaving my classroom. Here is a screenshot I took while I was exploring the MSU campus -

Another feature that could be really useful is the Tour function. This allows you to record and share a tour of a specific area and provide narration. This could be used to either supplement a lecture or lesson, or as a presentation school for student projects.

Also, here is a really interesting blog (unofficial yet endorsed by Google) that explains some of GoogleEarth's features, gives tips, and information related to using the download.

Interesting Article...

Big tech news today...Google is choosing to not withdraw their company from China but instead route searches through a Hong Kong server in order to go around Chinese censorship laws. This article was really thought-provoking and I will be interested to hear more on the topic. I did know that China had very strict rules regarding internet usage by its citizens but I didn't really realize that something like this would be an option for Google. I commend them on their attempt at bringing equal and fair access to everyone but at the same time it seems to violate pretty serious social norms. It is a very western approach that Google would know better than the Chinese government. I am interested to see what, if anything, is done about this move. Check out the article on CNN.

I am Back!

After a week spent relaxing and enjoying the sunshine - I am back into the swing of things at school. I had a great time catching up on some much needed rest over my Spring Break. It was so refreshing to come back to nice weather instead of snow! As for the week of no technology, I hate to admit that I actually enjoyed it. It was kind of a relief to be unreachable for a little while. I didn't feel like I had to be in constant connection and I could just enjoy being outside and going on adventures. I say this with complete understanding that having no technology would be completely impractical to my life on a long term basis. I still think it was a nice break and gave me an appreciation for the minute by minute access I have to news, information, and everyone's lives. I am finding it kind of hard to get back into the swing of things though. Email and Facebook usage are back to normal but the blogging and my Twitter account have suffered a little. Hopefully this will come back without completely starting over because I was just getting used to these various means of communication.

SB 2010

Happy Spring Break everyone!! Enjoy the time off and relax a little. I will be sans technology for the next few days (no cell phone, computer, or TV) so I will update when I get back about how that goes. Part of me is looking forward to being a little tuned out and the other part of me is nervous that I am just too used to having all of this at my fingertips. Either way, this is a much needed and appreciated vacation!

PLN

So far I feel fairly successful in developing a PLN that works best for me. I enjoy blogging and twittering the most because it is personal and immediately rewarding. I think the biggest downside of all of this online communication is that there is just so much information. It is overwhelming to sift through all of the sites, blogs, articles, posts, tweets, etc. regarding education. I am learning more about what styles and opinions I enjoy reading and am getting more comfortable contacting others about their thoughts or ideas. In my opinion, the latter part is the real purpose of PLNs and networking.

My Very Own Website!

I just put the finishing touches on my midterm project for CEP 416. So far, it is the majority of my online portfolio including my resume and a potential lesson plan using technology. I am very proud of it considering a few months ago I was happy to be using e-mail effectively! I am really impressed with the amount I have learned and the amount of information I can actually see myself using in a classroom. I would love feedback or input of any kind about my work. Check it out - Lauren's Website

Finally..

Here is the finished project of the presentation I posted the other day. I added a narration using VoiceThread. I can totally see the benefits of using this in more of a business or networking sense but it is harder to apply in a classroom - seeing as how I would be delivering the lecture in person. Something like this really could revolutionize how teachers give students their work for days they were absent though. Enjoy!

Practice with Presentations

This week I have been playing around with a couple different applications that allow users to create effective and interesting presentations. Similar to PowerPoint, these programs create a slide-show that you can personalize and use for many different purposes. I tried to use the concept of Beyond Bullet Point or BBP for this sample lesson. Basically, the developers of BBP explain that both the positive side and downfall of PowerPoint presentations is that they are easy to create. That being said, they aren't always made effectively. Individuals learn in many different ways but there are some basic concepts to understand before giving a presentations. Learning is multi-faceted and in order to be effective, the presenter must strike the perfect balance between simple, easy to understand slides, and information overload. The slides need to use the space, time, and images to convey important points.

Too often in classes that I have taken a teacher has created presentation to guide a lecture that was only bullet points, and then simply read us these slides. While being un-creative, these types of presentations are insulting to one's audience. If learning were as simple as reading, we wouldn't need to attend a lecture on it. Effective presentations waste nothing - they use speech, text, and images to the best of each of their abilities. Here is a look at a sample presentation that I have created as an introduction to the US Supreme Court.

Go Green!

Here is another really interesting aspect of using technology in classrooms. It isn't discussed too much but it really tied to the overwhelming Green (big G as in environmental, not political party) movement that is happening right now. I came across this blog the other day...I think it's a really great idea and it can definitely be aided by using things like online documents and resources. Many university classes are now paperless for the most part due to budget costs, but it doesn't seem to be embraced as much by grade school classes.

GoogleDocs

I've always really liked the idea of peer editing and collaboration. As a teacher, I plan on having my students complete writing assignments fairly often. I am aware that they are more time consuming than tests for them and for me but I personally think there is a lot more to be gained from writing than from multiple choice exams. I think peer editing is a really beneficial way to get students reading and thinking critically about each others works. By sharing ideas and analysis, they can strengthen their own argument or potentially think about a topic in a different way than they saw it originally.
GoogleDocs is a really interesting tool that can be used to take peer editing to a new level. As long as everyone involved has access to a computer and a Gmail account (which can be made for this purpose) all of the students can become collaborators. This opens up a lot of opportunity for new types of homework assignments. Students can upload their own work and have it edited or critiqued by peers, or they can use it for group projects and brainstorming. Another aspect of GoogleDocs that is useful in the classroom is that, as a teacher, I would be able to see each part that an individual student contributed to a project. This would help with accountability and equality of work.

Classroom Encounters

I am slowly getting more and more used to the idea of blogging about things that happen to me. It is luckily becoming less of a chore as long as I remind myself to fit it into my routine. Recently I was talking to a friend of mine and we ran into a tech problem that fit nicely into what I've been talking and thinking about lately. In the process of making a lesson plan about subliminal messages in advertising, he came upon a video that he wanted to show his class. The problem was that it was in a format such that we couldn't figure out how to make it full screen (or any larger for that matter). I found the exact same video on YouTube and thought I had saved the day! As it turns out, YouTube is blocked on all of the classroom computers at his school.

A couple things about this occurrence struck me. First of all, I was excited to be able to find what I was looking for and know that I was legally able to use it. Second, I was shocked that a resource as simple and well-known as YouTube would be blocked. I understand that there are less than desirable things available on the internet, but it seems like there would be better ways around this that banning the entire site. There is such a wealth of information that teachers could use in class that is being denied to them. It's difficult to think about integrating more complicated technology if some classrooms aren't even allowed to use YouTube. Lastly, this brought up the question of what to do now. A different acquaintance suggested ripping it from the website and using it in a different player. After doing some research, I found that there is in fact software available to do just that - but didn't want to wrestle with the legality of doing so. So, back to square one - a teacher with a perfect example of tech that he is unable to use.
Photo Credit: Flickr

Progress...

On a side note, I'm really excited that I was able to figure out how to embed that video. I'm finally feeling like I am getting the hang of a few of these things!

Go World!

I just saw this commercial on TV while watching the Olympics and I think the idea is adorable. It kind of makes me wonder how all of the sports dads feel who had to sit through hours of practice and competitions too, but cute nonetheless. Enjoy!

Tweet Tweet

So far I have really enjoyed using Twitter in a professional capacity. I was so apprehensive about getting an account because I had such a negative feeling towards Twitter. It seemed like a completely unneccessary tool. I had no idea why anyone would want to read what I was doing all the time. Before this course, I hadn't considered using it in any other way than to tell people where I was or what I was wearing (because that was how many of my friends used it). Now that I am networking with other teachers, following several friends, getting instant news, and keeping track of other resources (politicians, organizations, museums) I am finding it more and more interesting everyday. I don't think something like Twitter will ever replace full websites or social networking sites because the amount of information is so limited, but I do think it is a really interesting and effecient concept for quick news. I think it is really intriguing how many news outlets and journalists keep a Twitter because it seems to take away from more substantial forms of journalism, but I suppose it is just a sign of the times. I'm still haven't completely gotten the hang of using my TweetDeck but I think that will begin to come more naturally as I follow more people. (photo found on Flickr)

TPACK Exploration

As I've mentioned before, I am pretty overwhelmed with amount of information I have access to through the internet. Although it is fraught with complications from human and technology error, the internet gives us ways to view resources that we could never have imagined several decades ago. As a teacher, this prospect is incredibly exciting. With limited funds and the practicality of numerous field trips, we are able to share things with our students in a much smaller time frame with much less planning. Recently, I've been exploring the world of virtual museums and the opportunities that they present for a classroom. These are websites that have been developed in conjunction with an actual museum that allows access to the information displayed in permanent exhibits, traveling displays, and from their research or records. The wonderful part about museums (in any form) is the wealth of information they make available to the public. The purpose of them is to share in the education process and to spread knowledge to as many people as possible.

The idea of TPACK is to integrate Technological, Pedagogical, and Content knowledge into interesting, and useful lessons with a classroom. The emphasis of this theory is that all three are very important but that these types of learning and knowledge can all interact really successfully, and sometimes better than when used on their own.

Two of the websites I explored were from the Smithsonian (http://www.si.edu/) and the Library of Congress (http://www.americaslibrary.gov/) From the technological knowledge standpoint, these sites are fairly easy to use. As long as one has computer and internet access, these websites are available. Although it is an advanced idea, and the sites themselves are complex, they are easy to navigate and search for both myself and potential students. These types of resources can employ aspects of my personal pedagogy because it can assist me in creating engaging lessons. Although I would love to take every single one of my students to the Smithsonian in person, realistically I will be unable to, so I want to be able to offer the next best thing. The content of these sites is geared mostly towards social studies classrooms. Because the SI is home to so much information, it can really be used across many disciplines - or possibly in some type of cross curriculum activites. The LoC site specifically deals more with American history and has a lot of interactive features that would be interesting to incorporate.

Practice with Flickr

Here is a photo I licensed with Creative Commons through Flickr.

Flickr

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words

I, personally, am a very hands-on learner. I always enjoyed lessons and classes that incorporated visual components such as pictures, video, or some type of activity to complete. I think in a classroom it is really important to keep everyone engaged. Although lectures may work for some, I think lessons should be planned so that they are broken up by other types of media to remain interesting. Since I plan on teaching Social Studies I think my classes will lend themselves very well to incorporating interesting visual aids.

Flickr

I think that primary documents are an awesome way to incorporate different media into a history or government class. Although all information can be summarized or retold, there is something to be said about seeing the Declaration of Independence in it's original hand writing. Many people will never be able to see documents such as these in person during their lives so technology gives us all a way to share in an experience that we otherwise not have.

State Champs!

Courtesy: Jeff Garland Photography
Hey Everyone!

I'm on the Competitive Pompon team at MSU and we had our final competition of the season yesterday. I'm happy to report that we received a first place in the Collegiate Division!! For the fourth time in a row, MSU has brought back a first place and we are all ecstatic. Ours was the first team to develop at the collegiate level but the competition is growing and getting better and better every season. I am so proud to have been part of such an amazing team and I couldn't imagine a better way to finish off my season as a senior. Congratulations to all of the other teams who competed as well, I love seeing all of the innovative ideas. Every year I am surprised by the creativeness and athleticism of the teams we compete against. GO GREEN GO WHITE GO STATE!!

Tech Fail

Yesterday I had a big presentation in my senior seminar in which I had to lead the discussion on a book we had just finished. I was excited and nervous because this is a very important class for me. I had prepared a really solid outline, with intriguing and thoughtful questions. I even incorporated some really interesting clips of video I found on coordinated nicely with my plan.

The conversation was going well, the other students were engaged, everyone (for the most part) had completed the reading. I was really satisfied so far. Half way through the class I decided to introduce the video clips. I set them up an explained the questions I wanted to be considered. There it is the moment of truth...*Click*....nothing. The links that I had created in a word document, even though I had tested them on my computer, didn't work. Quickly, I tried to find them elsewhere while the class waited but to no avail. I was so frustrated! I completely understand how difficult it is to begin integrating things like this into lessons. It wasn't even anything very complicated and it was still risky to completely trust that it would work. Of course, human error is involved. I am sure there is something I did wrong along the way, but it was still a very frustrating experience. It's so hard to not feel that technology is sometimes more trouble than it is worth.

100 People

Check This Out!

I came across this amazing project I think the whole concept is brilliant! It is so important that we begin making education and learning more globalized. The world is changing at an incredible rate and we have to do everything we can to keep up. It's essential to help my future students understand concepts on a global level. This project really shows how simultaneously large and small Earth is.

So what now?

In general, I am struggling with being able to integrate so much technology into my everyday life. In the matter of a few weeks, I have more communication and networking tools at my fingers than ever before. The initial excitement over everything being so new has begun to wear off and I am realizing how little I know about most of these resources. The amount of connections that I am able to make utilizing this blog, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and Delicious is becoming overwhelming.

My biggest concern with all of these technologies is how I will plan on utilizing them in the classroom. On an individual basis, I can definitely see how some of these things, especially blogging and Twitter, will help me to communicate with other teachers. I plan on teaching in a big city or urban setting within the next several years so I am having trouble imagining how these will be effective teaching tools for me. In many of the classrooms that I have been in, we are lucky to have enough textbooks for the students, regardless of whether or not they are up to date. So how can I ask students to make a website or access all of this information? It doesn't seem fair to assume all students I teach will have the same access to computers, cell phones, or iPods that I currently do.

Happy Groundhog's Day

Flickr

Small World

Earlier this week I attended a lecture by Leonard Slatkin, the music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Music has always been a huge part of my life and I think the impact that being part of the arts community throughout grade school made a really significant impact on who I am today. Slatkin's lecture touched on a lot of topics including his past, quirky stories about his family and his incredibly impressive personal resume. One of the main points of his lecture was the importance that music and arts education has in schools. He spoke so passionately about the profound change that music can have on an individuals life. That music and the community that it creates gives people a sense of pride and belonging, as well as a connection to culture, history, and a creative outlet.

Everyone always says "oh it's such a small world". I truly do believe this, not just between people and relationships, but also between ideas and experiences. The beginning part of Slatkin's lecture was about how involved his family was in music (both of his parents were principal musicians for major motion picture companies)and how music has always provided a type of solace for many during tough times. He explained that right after WWII there was a huge push in the arts community to commission plays and pieces of music. It also led to the development of many local symphonies and dance companies. For some reason, our country is currently in a similar state of turmoil and financial strife, yet more and more schools and communities are cutting music and arts programs from the budget.

Parts of the lecture made me think about a lot of different things in relation to my experiences with music and how it has shaped me. It also surprisingly made me think a lot about music's interaction with technology. I know that is sounds like I am fishing for a connection but it really seemed to make sense. (On a side note, it was also one of the first times I thought "I should blog abou this" which is an altogether new experience.) Technology has had such a major influence on the way we experience and access music. From production and recording to performances, technology has completely revolutionized how we experience music, art, and performances. But has it been for the better? I think that our immediate connections to music and art on such a huge scale through the internet has made live performances more obsolete, but it has also provided these things to access a larger audience than ever though possible several decades ago. I would really like to explore this further!

Getting Settled

I am simultaneously overwhelmed and in awe of the amount of new things I've learned in the last two weeks in this course. I never would have thought that I would ever start a sentence, "So I was on Twitter and..." And now I have a website, blog, and am a member of several social media sites. Who knew?

I think the things I am learning to do and discover online are absolutely fascinating. The amount of information that is available to me within seconds is equally liberating and paralyzing. I am excited to learn how to work through the noise and discover really useful resources. I found an awesome site called This Week in Education that I think will be really interesting to explore. It is written daily by an ex-Senate staffer with updates about politics, education, and the overlap thereof. Unfortunately, there is no RSS option but I think it will be great to follow and explore.

Tweet Tweet

Follow me! @MsJasinski

Technology Background

I, as many students probably do, have an intense love/hate relationship with technology. My generation is fortunate enough to grow up during a technology boom, there has been such an incredible increase during my life. In elementary school I remember what a big deal it was when we got computer lab time and got to play Oregon Trail or Ultra Keys. I couldn't have imagined that ten years later, not having access to a computer at all times seems like an inconvenience. I am a very basic technology user. I have a cell phone with me every day but it is not a smart phone or anything fancy. It makes calls and sends texts when it feels agreeable. I have a mac laptop computer that is really easy to use. I use it mainly for basic internet use (email and facebook) and word processing for classes. I have a digital camera (I love pictures but beyond red-eye removal and cropping I don't do much photo editing) and a iPod that I use sparingly. Music is very important to me but I listen mainly via iTunes on my computer or to CDs in my car.

The love portion of my experiences with technology is that I know I couldn't get by without it. It keeps me connected with my friends and family and organized for my classes and personal life. I keep myself very busy and really like using the Calendar option in my Gmail. The hate side is that I feel like my knowledge base is at a very basic level. I'm comfortable with computers and can catch on fairly quickly, but I have virtually (no pun intended) no knowledge about how most technology works, how to fix problems I may have, or how to use different types of technology past their most basic functions.

I'm really excited about the prospects of this class. I know how important technology is to our lives and how I'm sure it will only become more and more prominent.

Hello Blog World

Hi everyone! This is my first time using and being active in the blogging community. I am wary but excited about the possibilities for communication and networking. I am starting this blog as an assignment for a course I'm taking but I will hopefully learn to use it for much more.