Blog Assignment #10

What can we learn from Kathy Cassidy?

First Graders in Ms.Cassidy's Class
In the video, Little Kids, Big Potential, it showed how technologically advanced first graders are in today's generation. These students were using blogs to share their work and what they have learned with the world. I thought that it was great how the student's family members were able to comment on their blogs. I thought it was great, because if a student has a family member in another state, they can still stay connected. By the students receiving uplifting comments, it is going to make that student want to put more work on their blog. (Meaning they WANT to do more work!!) The students were also making videos, using smartboards, and Wiki's. With Wiki's, students can see what different people responded to a prompt. When the students were learning about traditions, users could comment a tradition that they have. Naturally, everyone's traditions are different, so the students can learn about traditions they have never heard of, and learn more about them. Another thing that the video briefly showed was how the students should skype with guest speakers. This is great, because the students can ask specific questions and have it explained to them by an expert.

Interview with Kathy Cassidy
In the video, Interview with Kathy Cassidy (Part 1, 2, and 3), she explained what it is like to be a teacher in today's generation. She said it is important to protect the students safety by teaching them how to safely use the internet. Students should first be protected by keeping their personal information private. Kathy Cassidy teaches her students to not use their last name online and to instead use their birthday. She also does not have their name related to any pictures of that student. She then protects the students by teaching them safe sites to go to. She feels as teachers we should teach the students what to do while on the internet. Ms.Cassidy uses her student's blogs as an online portfolio, and it also helps her students with writing. Parents like the blogs because they can be involved and see what their child is learning.
Kathy Cassidy's class also shared a video they made with another first grade class and vise versa. Their videos were on the same topic, but taught it in different ways. This is useful because every student learns differently, and one video may be more useful than the other. She feels that by teachers not using technology in the classroom that the teacher is handicapping their students by limiting them. Teachers should be technologically literate so that they can keep up-to-date with today's technology and tools. This means that the teacher is constantly adapting to learning new things and new techniques. Where to start when building a PLN (Personal Learning Network) can be difficult, but Kathy Cassidy gives great advice. She says to start where they are interested, and then expand from there.

How would I use this in my classroom??
I really like how blogging gets the parents involved. I think that it is very important that the parents are involved in their child's education. I like that through blogging students can communicate with people from around the world. This gives them a range of opinions and thoughts, that they possibly might not have thought about. When I comment on a student's blog, I like to ask questions that make them think deeper into the prompt their teacher gave them. I also like that they collaborate with other classes that are the same age. This way the information is being repeated and taught in a new way. I was kind of unsure of how I felt about students being so technologically involved, but every week I learn more and more about how useful it is and I cannot wait to use it in my classroom.