Podbean Selection

This is my daughter Listen to this episode Singing a famous opera aria

Check THIS Out!!

Podcast Suggestions

I have several suggestions for your podcasts.
1. Practice. The groups that practiced last year had better podcasts.
2. Introduce yourself. Don't just say your name. Add a sentence or two including the fact that you area student in the College of Education at the University of South Alabama. Identify your major and explain why you are interested in the topic for your podcast.
3. Explain everything. Many of your listeners may not be familiar with programs, techniques or technologies that you use daily. Yes, there are many who have never heard of Facebook!
4. Be conversational. Don't take turns reading presentations.
5. If you disagree with a member of your team, say so (politely) and explain why.
6. Don't be afraid to ask questions, even if you do not know the answers. Speculations (especially about the future) are quite appropriate.
7. You may use notes.
8. If your team is interviewing someone, one member must assume the responsibility of introducing the guest. Include, in the introduction, enough about the person so that listeners will have an appreciation of their position and experiences.
9. One member of your team will moderate (begin the session, identify the topic, get the self introductions underway, and wrap up the podcast when it is clear that you have reached an appropriate end to the conversation. Thank your listeners.
10. If you mention a web site, a book, a magazine article, or anything a listener might want to refer to, bring that citation with you on podcast day. If it is a URL, check to make sure it works. All of these "citations" will be included in the blog post that will accompany your podcast.
11. Relax. Have fun. The whole world may be listening!

Professional Blog

It is hoped that at the conclusion of your university experience that you will have acquired skills in your subject areas and skills relating to how to communicate these skills to your students. An important part of any job search involves being able to put your best foot forward, and present what you have learned to any potential employer. Up until a short time ago that would have involved building a resume'. We are going to substitute a professional blog in the place of a resume'. Your professional blog will work toward the same goal. i.e., allowing you to communicate to a prospective employer why you would be a valuable addition to their school.

Dr. Strange has created a professional blog that illustrates what should be in the blog. Click here to see a professional blog This is a sample.

Use the following naming scheme: if your name is Sally Jones the URL for your professional blog must be

sjonesedm310spring2009pb.blogspot.com

In other words use the same name as your class blog except add "pb" after the "....spring2009" and before "...blogspot.com"

We will discuss this in class.

Podcast Topics

Each student will participate in the production of a 15 minute (approximate) Podcast with two or three other students. These Podcasts will be conversations among the participants covering one of the following topics:

1. My experiences with Blogging and how it could be useful to me as a teacher
2. Interesting Blogs I have located and reviewed from International Schools
3. Interesting Blogs I have located and reviewed from schools in the United States
4. A review of some of the educational support materials for Elementary Teachers found on iTunes
5. A review of some of the educational support materials for High School teachers found on iTunes
6. Pick of the Day: Source Materials for Elementary Teachers on the web
7. Pick of the Day: Source Materials for High School Teachers on the world wide web
8. Can Facebook be used as an educational tool? A discussion.
9. Can YouTube be used as an educational tube? A discussion.
10. Examining the Strange thesis that students now are listener/watchers and not reader/writers. How accurate is that claim? Can include an interview with Mr. Wakeman if desired.
11. Strange also argues that teachers must teach students to contribute to the development of materials that are listened to and watched. How realistic is that in the schools in which I will teach? Can include an interview with Mr. Wakeman if desired.
12. Alabama has begun a program to provide distant learning to high school students called ACCESS. How does it work? How useful is it likely to be?
13. Dr. Strange says he is against “burp back education.” How can it be eliminated in my classes when I begin to teach?
14. Pick of the Day: Useful internet sites for Elementary Teachers.
15. Pick of the Day: Useful internet sites for High School Teachers.
16. My classes at South: How is technology used in them?
17. My classes in the College of Education. How is technology used in them?
18. What I learned from “Shift Happens” and how it affects me as a teacher.
19. What I learned from “The Last Lecture of Randy Pausch.”
20. Can podcasts be useful in the classes that I will teach?
21. Can or is teachertube (http://www.teachertube.com) useful to teachers. Give examples.
22. Interview Dean Richard Hayes on a mutually agreed upon topic relating to education and/or educational technology.
23. Interview Dr. Philip Feldman (early technology adopter) about educational technology. Can include snippets of a 1988 interview of him about educational technology. Can focus on past, present or future.
24. Interview Dr. Charles Guest (Chair of Professional Studies Department) on mutually agreed upon topic.
25. Our crystal ball: Speculations on the “future classroom.” Interview Dr. Strange before (or during) presentation. Emphasis should be on your ideas, however.
26.Interview Dr. Eddie Shaw about how he sees technology being introduced into the USA Department of Leadership and Teacher Education.
27. Interview with a faculty member not on this list that agrees to be interviewed during class time in the first week of March.
28. Other topics that I approve.
29. Other suggestions for your podcast that I approve.
30. Wikipedia. What are the positives and negatives of Wikipedia? Can Wikipedia be useful to students and educators? How and under what circumstances?

Foliotek NEWS!!

I received this email from the Foliotek administrator

Foliotek is now available for students new to Foliotek. Please have students log into their Companion and click on the ePortfolio link at the top.

Remember: Students should print out a copy of the receipt and log out of Foliotek and log out of the eCompanion. Next, log back into the eCompanion and click on the ePortfolio link to view their portfolio. They will not have an additional Foliotek login ID. Students may have more than one portfolio - Teaching Field and Quality Teaching (QTS). They will need to accept the license agreement for both portfolios.
Students should only upload the document once into their "Files" tab located at the top of their screen. That document can be used to meet numerous standards by associating the document to the standard. This is done by selecting the option to add an existing file rather than uploading a file.

At the present time, students new to Foliotek will only see their teaching field portfolio and Alt. Majors will see Atl QTS. Students requiring Quality Teaching Standards (QTS) will have that portfolio available this week. The link will show up in the same location the Teaching Filed link is on their Foliotek home page.

Office 2007 for Students

Below is a link to a special software deal for Office 2007. I purchased this exact package a year or more ago. I do recommend purchasing the back up disk. Please share with your students that may be interested in purchasing Office 2007. Can't beat the price as far as I know.

Click Here for On-line offer

Price is $59.95 for 10 full software packages. Just need to be a student.