I think that it is so important that we, as educators, read research articles.  There is so much information that can be gained from reading articles that have been written by others and published.  As teachers, we should be constantly learning, and one way we can continue to learn is by reading research articles.  Reading articles is important because they allow us to gain new information and fresh insight.  They can also cause us to change our point of view in some way.   

I recently read an article that I found to be very interesting.  This article was entitled, “Critical Literacy Isn’t Just for Books Anymore.”  It was written by Vivian Vasquez and published in 2010 by the International Reading Association.  I accessed this article through a popular database called WilsonWeb.  This online database has over 1,000 journal articles.  Many of these articles are even peer reviewed!  The journal in which this article was originally published was The Reading Journal.   

The main topic of the article was about how technology, podcasting specifically, can be used by elementary age students as tools for thinking about the world.  Technology can also be used to communicate with others in ways that otherwise would not be possible.  The article shared an example of a second grade teacher and her use of podcasting in her classroom.  While there were many significant points made in the article, I want to mention five that stood out to me as significant.  One point that stood out to me was about how curriculums should be built around students’ interests.  Technology can provide interesting ways for students to communicate about the world.  Another significant point is that students, through the use of technology, can connect to people beyond the physical school site.  This allows them to hear the perspective of others.  In addition to this connection, technology allows students the chance to gain knowledge they otherwise could not have gained.  Also, the use of podcasting moves children beyond traditional ways of working with texts; for example, children’s literature.  The last point that really stood out to me was about how podcasting teaches students that texts are socially constructed.

This article had a plethora of new information to me.  I learned that students could use podcasting, as an entire class, to be engaged in deeper ways.  They can also learn that texts are socially constructed.  In addition to that, students can learn more about the world as they communicate with others using the technology.  In summary, podcasting can be used by teachers and students, and students can learn things that otherwise would not have learned.  This article made me think about the use of technology in my classroom.  When I think of teachers, especially elementary school teachers, use of technology in the classroom, I often do not think of podcasting.  I typically think of students using computers and other types of machines.  While I had an understanding of what podcasting is, I did not really understand how students could use it in the classroom as a learning tool.  It was refreshing for me to read this article and see how a second grade teacher used podcasting in her classroom.  It was so neat to see how much these second grade students learned and benefitted from podcasting.  They also enjoyed using podcasting in the classroom.  I would consider this to be a win-win!  Podcasts are just one of the many technologies that can be used to help students’ learning.  Technology can be integrated in the classroom in so many wonderful ways!  Podcasting is a technology that I will definitely consider using in my own classroom!

What about you?  Have you used podcasting as a learning tool in your classroom?  If you have, please share your experiences below!

Click here to read the article. 

While you have probably heard of the popular video site YouTube, you might not be familiar with Learn360.  Learn360 is full of full videos, video clips, pictures, and podcasts that match up with Curriculum Standards.  For example, because I live in the state of Tennessee, the standards on the website are matched up to Tennessee's Curriculum Standards.  On Learn360, one can find videos and video clips that can be used in the classroom to enhance a lesson and reinforce learning.  While the videos on this website are educational, it is important to make the alignment between standards and the video you choose to show your class.  Standards will not go away, and they are the beginning point to lesson planning.  

On Learn360, one can either browse through videos or search for videos.  You can browse through videos based on subject area, grade level, media format, or state standards.  When I visited this helpful resource for the first time, I spent some time exploring the website and learning the ropes.  I watched pieces of multiple videos, learning more about the many choices of videos available.  When it came time for me to choose a video and align it to Tennessee's Curriculum Standards, I decided to browse by looking at the state standards.  I had the standards pulled up in another tab on my computer, and I also had them pulled up on the website.  I then chose the grade level I wanted to focus on, which was fourth grade, and continued to narrow down my search.  I chose fourth grade Earth and Space Science and found an excellent video that aligned with the Grade Expectations, as well as the Checks for Understanding and State Performance Indicators.  The video was entitled "What's UP in Space: The Solar System for Kids-Moon."  According to the summary provided with the video, “This video explores the Earth's moon, demonstrating the moon's phases, lunar and solar eclipses, and tides. Study how the moon developed into a rocky satellite of Earth and the first lunar landing by astronauts.”  This explanation aligned perfectly with the fourth grade Earth and Space Science standards.  Once I found the video and decided to use it, it was easy to determine what standards the video met.  This is because once a video is chosen; one can click on “State Standards” and see a list of standards that the video meets.  This includes different grade levels, depending on the video.  Learn360 is very user-friendly.  I can definitely see myself using this helpful resource in the future!

In addition to Learn360, there are other resources that can be used to integrate technology using video streaming in the classroom.  One of these resources is YouTube, and another resource is TeacherTube.  TeacherTube is a website that is similar to YouTube but it only has videos that would be appropriate for the classroom.  I really like this because I know there are some videos on YouTube that would not be appropriate for classroom use, and because of this, many schools block access to the site.  This only becomes a problem when you were planning on using a good video off YouTube in your classroom.  When this is the case, you can go to TeacherTube and find a video that you would like to show your class. 

What about you?  Have you ever used Learn360 or TeacherTube as a resource?  You can find out more about Learn360 here, however, this link will not take you there unless you have an account.    

I recently had the opportunity, as an educator, to learn about how to write a good résumé.  This has been a journey!  We started off talking about a résumé and looked at a few examples on Union University’s Career Services website.  I then began to type my information into a blank Word document, making sure to left align all information.  I looked at the examples online to help me in this process.  I understood that I would be going back and editing my format and information at a later date.  After that, my class had the chance to hear from a representative from Union University’s Career Services in a workshop.  I learned much about the purpose of a résumé and how to write a professional one during this workshop. 

A résumé is the first thing that employers look at when considering new employees.  It is a marketing tool about a prospective employee.  Because of this, it is so important to make sure that a résumé is done in a very professional manner with the correct components.  In terms of an educator’s résumé, the components include a heading, contact information, objective/profile/qualifications, philosophy of education, education and areas of certification, experience, honors and awards, computer skills, and more.  Each of these components is important for different reasons.  When they are all brought together in a professional format, a résumé has been created that can be used when applying for careers.  It is important to make sure that a résumé is unique and stands out from others.  This is because employers give each résumé, on average, fifteen seconds.  If there is nothing unique or special about you on the résumé, there is a good chance the employer will toss it aside and begin looking at the next one.

Prior to this workshop, I did not know how to format a résumé.  For example, I did not know that there are certain fonts and font sizes that should be used in the headings and body of the résumé.  The name should be 24 pt. and the component headings should be ten points smaller than that.  It is important to use “fonts with feet” because it is easy for employers to read.  The profile section of the résumé was possibly the most challenging section for me to write.  This section has six to eight characteristics unique to you put in short, powerful phrases.  It was hard for me to write this because I was trying to think of things unique to myself.  It was also hard because I was trying to be concise, yet still have powerful phrases.  The personal experience is also an important section on a résumé.  Employers like to know the experiences that you have had in the past.  It is also a good idea to keep a résumé limited to one page.  If there is no way you can fit all of your information on one page, it can be two, but it needs to fill both the first and second page.  There should not be a lot of white space on the bottom of the page.  

There is so much to consider when creating a résumé.  It is important to keep in mind that each word is important and should be carefully chosen.  After the workshop, we were to take the information we had been given and begin to make our résumés, formatting the way we had just been taught.  I worked hard trying to get all of my information on one page.  I finally managed to do this by adjusting the margin sizes as well as the space size in the document.  The next time we met in class, we were to work with a partner, peer editing the other's résumé.  After making the appropriate changes, we finally turned them in to Career Services to edit.  We received them back with red marks showing us the changes that should be made.  After making the changes that they suggested, the journey of the résumé is finally, for the time being, complete! This journey started out over a month ago, and it still isn't completely over!  I have recently learned that résumés are never complete.  They are always changing, and should be edited every so often.  I now understand the importance of résumés and how to write my own.  I also understand that I will constantly be changing and updating my résumé in the years to come.

For more information on how to write a professional résumé, visit Union University’s Career Services website here.

Click here to see my finished (current!) résumé!

I recently had the opportunity to go on a tour of the STAR Center.  The STAR Center, located in Jackson, Tennessee, is currently the largest assistive technology center in the nation.  This center is designed to help people with disabilities through the use of technology.  The STAR Center has a lot of adaptive equipment that those with disabilities can be trained to use.  The technology helps them work towards goals, such as finding a job or becoming more independent.  However, the clients do not teach themselves how to use the equipment.  There are tons of trained professionals who train the clients on using the technology.  The STAR Center helps people with disabilities of all ages, from infants to senior adults, as well as their families.  They rely heavily on donations and volunteers.  One thing that really stood out to me was that they help people who might not be able to pay for the services.  They serve anyone and everyone who they believe they can help, regardless of whether or not the person can pay. 

As I took the tour of the STAR Center, one thing was repeated many times, and it really stood out to me.  It was clear that the STAR Center really treats each person as an individual.  Many things that were said started with, "Depending on the individual..."  I think that it is so neat that they recognize that each person is unique in his or her own way, and that "One size does not fit all."  The staff at the STAR Center recognizes that although clients may have similarities, each person is different in terms of limitations and abilities.  Because of this, many of the therapy centers and technology "depend on the individual."  I think that this is important to remember when it comes to teaching as well.  Students are all different, and they need to be taught in a variety of ways.

I was also blown away with how large the STAR Center is.  There seemed to be endless rooms of equipment.  It is so neat to think of all of the people they help each year!  The STAR Center will not accept each person who comes for treatment.  By that, I mean that if they feel as if the person could receive better help elsewhere, they will provide the appropriate information to the person.  In the Resource Room, there are tons of brochures and flyers with different programs around the city.  These are used to find additional help if needed.  It is very important to treat each client like an individual.  As the lady who gave us our tour said, "Consider the person."  We need to think about how we like to be treated, and treat everyone around us with the same respect and love we would like to receive. 

I learned much about the STAR Center as a result of doing a little research and taking a tour.  I am glad I had the chance to see the STAR Center and learn more about all the people they help through their services.  If you have not heard much about the STAR Center, I recommend finding out more about it!  It really is a great place that helps so many people! 

 Click here for more information about the STAR Center.