PODCAST

Podcasting is made up of two wrods:iPod and broadcast. Podcasting is a software and hardware combination that allows automatic downloads of audio files. You can use a podcast for audio and visual by using the Internet. Podcasting works by downloading a podcast aggregators or padcatchers. Then when a site or program is available subscribers are notified by there aggregator, whnich then downloads the feed to the computer or MP3 player. The podcatcher retrieves the files enclosed in the RSS feed and automatically adds the files to each user's media player. Teacgers can use podcasting for many differnt ways. Four of the most useful ways are curriculum augmentation, professional development, material presentation by both teachers and students, and communication with the community and parents. Podcasting is being used for many different things now. Students can podcast what they learned in class that day, teachers can communicate with parents althrough their community, and students or teachers and download or add articals or reports. I think taht podcasting is the way to go now, If you have a student that has a disablilty and can not write then they can download the program and listen to the notes or lecture from that class. I think taht it is a very good idea and it will help out alot. the website that I went to was http://www.cnn.com/services/podcasting/popups/nancy.grace.html. I listened to the Nancy Grace show, which was very inetresting. I chose thios links because I like to watch CNN at home and now I can listen to it at scholl or anywhere. It also has some more of my favorite shows like Show and Tell, Anderson 360, and many more. I thought that it was an interesting way to keep up with the news and many other things.

Mr. Sullivan

I enjoyed the powerpoint presentation. I think that it is really neat that Mr. Sullivan was teaching these programs legally blind. that would be very hard for me to do, it takes a lot of courage and practice. I think that all students going to be teachers should learn these programs for the ones with disabilities. It will come into play at some point of your teaching career. This presentation was very helpful to me and interesting.

Alabama Virtual Library

AVL is very convient for everyone teachers and students. It has all kinds of links that you can go to to find articles, research, and look up people. it also has a section that you can click on for elementary, high school, college & universities, and general.

Let say you are a teacher for an elementary class and your student has some homework that they can not find the answer to. Then all they would have to do is go on AVL and click on elementary and it will take them to some more links for encylcopedias and other web sites, but it will bring up things that only includes elementary information. It is the same with high school and college.

To be able to access AVL from your home all you have to do is go to the closest public library and get a libarary card if you don not have one already. Then you will be able to access it anytime from home or you can go to your school and access it for free.

I think that it is a good web site for everyone. It all kinds of books, articles, and other sites you can look at. It has good information for you if you are doing a research paper or presentation. i think it was a good idea.

Thinking Assignment

I would have to disagree with the article. Yes the Internet has become a faster way to look things up but I dont think that it is corrupting our brains. Peole use the Internet for many different reasons. Some use it to talk to friends that may be in a different country and it would cost to much to talk on the phone, some use it to download music, and some for entertainment. Really if you think about it the internet is a cheaper way and less tme consuming to do things now. Not everything has to go back 50 to 60 years and be like people then. Things change and time changes. It will also be like that and there is no reason to always find something bad.

Google Presentation

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ALEX Database

ALEX is similar to ACCESS but it has many different links you can visit. For example you have web links, lesson plans, a search area, personal workplace, professional readings, distance learning, and a help section.

In the web links category you have a link for teachers, administrators, and students. Each link will give you access to different websites where you can better your skills. Under the teacher link you have choices like character education, counseling & guidance, science, and so on. Each link is different and will help you in whatever area you need.

The lesson plans link has a page where you can click on a subject, grade level, and other areas. There is also a place where you can go to look up plans by author, title, and school. When you click on a subject and grade level a lesson plan will pop up that you can save and use in your own classroom. It will walk you through the steps on how to explain problems to your class and it will give you problems that you can teach to your students.

The personal workplace is where you can log in to your own workplace and create a personal lesson plan with the help of ALEX. The search link is where you can put a subject or area and it will search the ALEX Thinkfinity database.

The professional workplace link will help teachers be able to chat with other teachers or administrators and can help a teacher understand the ELL (Special Education) kids. There is also some links for educator resources to enhance growth and communication.

The final two links are for distance learning and help. Distance learning will offer courses online for students to enhance their learning skills. The help link will help you find anything with the ALEX database.

I think that the ALEX database will be very helpful to teachers and students. Teachers will have access to lesson plans and unlimited resources. I will definitely access ALEX when I am a teacher. IT WILL HELP ME HELP THEM.

ACCESS BLOG

ACCESS provides classroom courses and teachers by technology. The problem with our classrooms and schools these days is many of them are low-income and have limited course offeringsd for students. Alabama has a vision that they would like to meet with the ACCESS program. They would like to provide fair access to improve student learning through distance learning. Distance learning is where teachers and students are separated by space and time.

The objectives for ACCESS is to provide access to advanced diploma courses, additional course offerings, and to advanced placement or dual enrollment, etc. There are two kinds of delivery modes videoconferencing and internet based instruction. Delivery sites will receive funds for teachers to receive training and funds per credit to off-site students. Videoconferencing is an audio/visual link between two or more remote sites.

The benefits of videoconferencing is it expands the reach of education, allows students to take classes that are not offered at their school, allows students to interact with other students from different schools, and increase student responsibilities. There are some faults to videoconferencing. Teachers must be organized and prepared, making the receiving students feel a part of the class, and helping students before, during , and after school.

The teachers benefit from this program just like the students do. ACCESS extends the faculty resources, allows for professional development, and extends the professional community.

I think that ACCESS could be very helpful to teachers and students. If there is a book or a part of a course that I would like to teach to my students then all I have to do is pull-up ACCESS and be able to expand the students learning. I think once all the kinks are worked out it would be a great program.

Hey Ya'll

Hi! My name is Kelly Lowe.  I am 25 years old and I have an older sister that lives in Texas with her husband. I enjoy going to the beach and doing anything that is outdoors.  I enjoy spending time with my friends and boyfriend of 2 years, Matt. I live by myself or with my cousin right now.  Hope you come back to visit soon! Bye!!