Journal 4 (NETS-T 3,4,5)

Ormiston, M. (2010, December 01). It's time to trust teachers with the internet: a conversation with meg ormiston. Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/12/01/its-time-to-trust-teachers-with-the-internet-a-conversation-with-meg-ormiston.aspx?sc_lang=en

Summary: This article illustrates the frustration and difficulties teachers face when it comes to teaching 21st century students with 21st century teaching style/lesson. Using digital tools is definitely a way in teaching in a “21st century” classroom. Teachers are facing problems because teachers are pressured to teach a certain way, yet are unable to use the tools to incorporate digital tools in their teaching. For example, the computers at school are filtered, preventing students from entering any social media site – including pornography. Although filters prevent students from entering sites they should not be in, it prevents teachers from entering innovated and helpful websites because the majority of them are classified as a “social media” website. So, her bottom line is to start trusting the teachers who are hired to teach children.

Q1: Should a teacher give up if he/she is having difficulties teaching with technology due to the “filter” frustration?

A1: No. If one is having problem finding websites that falls under a “social media” website, she/he should try collaborating with other teachers in the cyber world or in her/his community. Diigo and Twitter are great online tools a teacher can enter in at home. Also, another option, although it can be tough as it was noted in the article, but talking to the IT department may also be a possibility. As long as a teacher runs the website with the IT to insure that the site is a great tool for the lesson. However, it’s easier said than done. But, we can never go wrong if the statement is certified and legit.

Q2: Can teachers really be trusted?

A2: This is tough, but the answer is Yes and No. First of all, we’re always hearing a teacher being accused of having inappropriate relationships with his or her student(s) – or some teachers are caught with pornography on their computer. Then, you have teachers who are really great and is just a teacher, wanting to help educate the minds of young and older students. So, I think the backgrounds of aspiring teachers should be deeply researched to prevent the thought of distrusting teachers. It is a really complicated question, but I thought it would be a great question to think about.

Journal 3 -100 Things That Make Me Happy

1. Family.
2. Being married to my best friend.
3. Friends.
4. My Faith.
5. My mom and mother-in-laws cooking.
6. Booking our next cruise or trip.
7. Family Reunions around the world.
8. Spring flowers.
9. Danny’s burgers down in Coronado.
10. Being at the beach on summer nights.
11. Family camping trips.
12. Waking up in the morning on a cruise and seeing dolphins right outside your balcony.
13. Being in the ocean.
14. Watching my niece and nephew growing up and learning something new each day.
15. Ice cream any day, cold or hot days, ice cream is great.
16. Going out for a run or just a good workout
17. Watching odd/funny/goofy 80's movie with my husband on Friday nights.
18. AC/DC or Bob Dylan live in concert.
19. Laughing till I cry or my stomach hurting.
20. At Coronado on a beautiful sunny day with a good book or just relaxing.
21. Baking with my sister-in-law and niece
22. Christmas mornings
23. Christmas chaos – I don’t know why it makes me happy, but it does.
24. Thanksgiving chaos 
25. Snorkeling or scuba diving
26. Hiking on Hawaii, Mazatlan, Washington, and Guam.
27. Having my husband kiss me before he leaves for work.
28. Our Bible study group meetings make me happy.
29. Listening to young kids on the block talk – makes me look back when I was their age.
30. Playing and working with kids
31. Open people make me happy. By “open” I guess I mean friendly. They actually say “thank you” when you hold a door for them.
32. Shopping for furniture that come at a great deal makes me really happy.
33. Shopping for my niece and nephew makes me happy.
34. Visiting my parents every other weekend.
35. Sushi
36. Winter days in Washington
37. Visiting my dad’s crazy sisters in Texas or Washington
38. The American Flag.
39. Music.
40. Mexican Food on the right day.
41. Being in the water surfing with my father in law and husband.
42. A nice bath or shower after a LONG day.
43. Sleeping in and not having to worry about papers.
44. Camping in our backyard with the kids.
45. When teachers are nice, that makes me happy.
46. Watching basketball and having the Celtics win.
47. Seeing old friends.
48. Planting in our backyard with my husband.
49. A BBQ dinner with our families.
50. Talks with the women in my family
51. Odd, but cleaning around the house makes me happy.
52. Cleaning my car.
53. Introducing 80’s cartoon shows and cartoon movies to our niece and nephews.\
54. Collecting DVDs of 80’s cartoon shows and Classic Disney movies for our future kids one day makes me happy.
55. Watching my husband do dishes and our laundry every now and then makes me happy.
56. Imagining graduation in May makes me REALLY happy.
57. Imagining having my own class one day makes me REALLY happy.
58. Knowing I’ll be a mommy one day makes me very happy.
59. Pedicure and Manicures
60. A good chick-flick with the women in my family.
61. Watching my husband hold our new-born nephew.
62. Seeing and knowing teachers actually care.
63. White Russian cake, yum!
64. Beet-salad, fillet Mignon on the side and a nice glass of wine.
65. No more night classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays
66. Good grades
67. French pastries, yum.
68. Cold beer and clam dip with chips watching a movie with our folks.
69. Playing Ghostbusters with the boys and teaching our niece Bryn say, “Oh no where are the Ghostbusters”. The boys, “No fear, the Ghostbusters are here”. In the background is the Ghostbusters theme song playing…
70. Listening my niece read to me
71. The thought of going skydiving makes me happy.
72. Seeing how my relationship with my parents had gotten better since I was a knuckle-head teenager.
73. Seeing old people old hands and show sweet affection to one another makes me happy.
74. My husband’s surprise picnics in La Jolla where we got married never gets old.
75. E-mailing and Skyping with my grandparent makes me happy.
76. Thinking about our Alaska trip makes me happy.
78. Cute dogs.
79. Costco food, yum.
80. Working with my camera makes me happy.
81. Studying sometimes makes me happy.
82. Learning something new makes me happy.
83. THE SUN
84. The islands, I miss it every now and then.
85. Dancing in the rain
86. Swimming in the rain
87. COFFEE – a must.
88. Sand in-between my toes with a pina colada next to me.
89. Being loved.
90. Cliff diving.
91. Shopping in Hawaii and Taiwan.
92. Waterfalls
93. Rainbows.
94. Dancing.
95. Teaching my husband how to hula when we first met, hilarious!
96. Being married by the same guy that married my in laws makes me happy.
97. The observatory on Mauna Kea is AWESOME!
98. Sleeping
99. Star gazing – Mauna Kea, Hawaii, being the best place!
100. My life.

Journal 2 (NETS-T 5)

Ferguson, H. (2010). Join the Flock. Learning With Technology, 37(8), 2-15.
Miller, S.M. (2010). Enhance your Twitter Experience. Learning & Leading with Technology, 37 (8), 14-17. Retrieved from: http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Join_the_Flock.aspx


Summary: The first article, “Join the Flock” gives a good look in how Twitter and PLN (Professional Learning Networks) work hand in hand. The article talks about how it is a great tool to use when it comes to collaborating ideas with teacher around the world. Through this article illustrates that Twitter is not a use only for “gossips”, but it can be used effectively. The author talks about how Twitter can help you keep track of certain groups or subject by using hash-tags. Hash-tags mark certain subjects or groups and you’re able to keep track of the conversation that is surrounding a particular subject or group. The most important part of this article is what the author points out, which one must be able to contribute to the network as well before expanding his or her PLN. Without contributions, you’re not helping others learn new lessons or ideas you have gained from others.

The second article, “Enhance Your Twitter Experience” explores the different tools that Twitter makes collaborations and communicating among other teachers just a bit easier for new twitters. There are great ways in maintaining communications with other by simply sharing a great website. You can share websites with multiple social networks via Twitter through HootSuite. Tweetdeck is another cool tool to help someone’s Twitter experience easier as it helps keep track of replies, social groups, and etc. Helping Twitter users organize may make things easier to follow and us.


Q1: Is PLN through Twitter different than meeting others face-to-face?

A1: Yes. Although I encourage both face-to-face communication and online communication, there are benefits that other can receive through online communication. For example, through PLN via Twitter people are able to grasp different subject questions they may have, they may receive six different ways to teach the Revolutionary War for 5th graders – from six different teachers all in one tweet. PLN is also different when it comes to meeting people in your community. For example, you may receive answers from others who come from a different culture/community and learn something really new and it may even change your perspectives teaching. Like I said I encourage face-to-face interactions among colleagues, peers, and community, but maybe you can also invite them to build their PLN to contribute to their great ideas to others out there as well.


Q2: How could one use PLN in their teaching?

A2: As an aspiring First grade teacher, I would join other PLN users who are First grade teachers. Especially for one who is just learning the playing field, I have no much to learn. And even when and if I get there, there will be more to understanding in how to help these young minds blossom. PLN is great because I could get in touch other teacher who have been there and done that and see how one teacher’s teaching can help enhance my lessons for Math, Science, Social Studies and Language Arts.