Bible Verse of the Week

"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you will have no reward from your Father in heaven"

Best & Worst of Tech and Topics for Education Class

Sadly my class has to come to the end... I am going to miss the discussions and the relevant information that I learned through this class. I was able to explore many topics that will benefit me in the classroom. I will miss discussions about things such as the importance of teaching or the advantages and disadvantages of technology. I will also miss the maturity of the classroom and the teacher. Everyone in the class liked the class and realized the importance of it. Also the teacher was very good at teaching the subject and had respect for the students. Gonna miss it! Thanks, SJW

Commenting On Other Blogs

So I am supposed to describe how it felt to comment on another persons blog... well I like being able to respond and starting a converstation. I also like being able to encourage the people. Overall I like being able to read things for myself and respond to the people. The only thing I did not like was how impersonal it felt or it seems to take out human interaction. I guess this could be a comment on mass media or how technology dependent our society has become. SJW

Portfolios, as good assessment tools?

Hello all!!! For this message I will be talking about portfolios or more specifically the portfolios we are doing for Mr. Becksfort Tech & Topics class. I believe that portfolios are a good way of presenting oneself, and a good way for future employers or peers to get a good knowledge of the teacher as a person. Through the portfolios we are doing in my class I am able to give my personal philosophy on teaching, my credentials, and my work/lesson plans. Through the portfolio people are able to put a face on the teacher and not just a resume that focus on the face value of a person. Thanks for reading! SJW

Am I a 21st Century Teacher?

I believe myself to be a 21st century teacher or that I will become one. As a teacher I plan on using the tools available to me and a new approach to teaching. As a future teacher I plan on using the new media or media tools when presenting a lesson. With the tools and hopefully my own style of teaching I plan on being an a pioneer in the education field. I want to be the 21st teacher that strive to exceed for my students. I want to be that educator who question and tries to create the best environment for the students. SJW Thanks SJW

Presentation Tool

Hello World! So in this post I want to comment on a new presentation tool that I have been using. It goes by the name of prezi. Hopefully you all heard of it if not... well ya lame. Just kidding but seriously it is a good way of presenting information. It is a web based tool so can assess it through any place on the internet. Also can insert pictures and videos from the internet without any problem. The graphics also helps. The only drawback is it is impossible to insert music other then in videos. It is a great tool give it a try! Website http://prezi.com

What It Was Like to See Myself Present a Lesson

Here is a post that I was supposed to post a LONG time ago. So... what was it like to see myself present a lesson. First off I felt excitemnet seeing myself teach from what would be the students perspective. On a side note, I noticed that I jumble my words and need to stop using so many hand motions. I feel like a look like a monkey but at least I can work on that habbit. I cannot wait to teach and inspire students even if that mean I look like a monkey. But seriously I hope that I am able to present myself well and help students see that greats things they can learn.

Bible Verses of the Day

"Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it" "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many" Mark 10:45

Plan for Video Lesson Introduction

I think the best way to introduce a topic is to use tools to make the topic more interesting such as how I present the topic when I am talking or by using technology such as prezi.I want to be able to keep the students interested while making sure to have them retain the information. Also want it to be fun and inspirational for them. That being said, I plan on making a video of myself introducing the concept of negative and positive space in art. In the video will being using prezi for the graphics without words so that I can explain it while presenting it. I will also use a videa example to explain it also. In a real classroom, I would after my intro have the students practice the concepts by having them draw it by using objects as reference.

Valentine's Day

Ok i have nothing against Valentine's day but really people. Corporations start stuffing the shelfs with valentine gimmicks like a month or more before the actual day. Is it really worth it to spend a huge amount of money on something that probably doesn't cost that much to make? (rhetorical question again). I cant say that I don't like the stuff because i do, but in my mind its better to do something more heartfelt (instead of like a 40 dollar stuffed animal). And if guys want to spend the money on the gift because that really care for the girl they should do something like roses, just saying. Sorry for the rant but I believe that it is not a bad point.

Legal Issues

As a future teacher I have many concerns such as how I should act in certain situations. When I act i will have to take into account legal results, and how it will effect the children mentally and their wellbeing. I will have to be careful of my actions and as a teacher I cannot turn a blind eye to a students situation. In doing so, like reporting what the child told me, my student would probably hate me but overall I need to hope that it is what is best for the student. The legal issues that concern me is the fact that some as simple as pat on the back can be taken the wrong way and cause legal issue. What scores me is whether our legal system will really bring justice or just cause more pain. I also worry about whether me as a teacher will be able to teach without the constant worry about possible legal problems for basically nothing.

Legal Brief Prezi

Board of Regents of State Colleges v. Roth on Prezi

Thank God for Coffee

Hi well I am still a beginner at blogging but here goes. So I wake up at like seven in the morning and the only thing that keeps me going is coffee. Who wouldn't want to wake up to the smell of coffee (rhetorical question)? I love coffee.... like really love coffee. I have almost three cups a day but I am more then alright with that. So thats the best I can come up with for know, sorry for whoever reads this because i am tired and have no idea if I am making any sense. Have a good day and I hope for you a coffee.
-SW

Students Lack Basic Research Skills

The article I will be reviewing is titled "Students Lack Basic Research Skills, Study Finds" by Paige Chapman. The article was published November 9, 2010. The article was focused on a report by Alison J. Head, called the "Project Information Literacy Progress Report." The article mentions how students in today culture are dependent on technology when it comes to research such as search engines like Google. Because of those students often have to deal with information overload and that students today have problems evaluating information. The article seems to focus on the brake away from standard sources, such as libraries, toward web based sources. The article was very helpful and backed up by good source material. I just did not agree about how it said it gave people less of an ability when it comes to evaluating information to me personally.


Article (website)

http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/students-lack-basic-research-skills-study-finds/28112


 -Sara Jane Wilson

Becoming a Educator

Right now I am learning what it means to be a teacher and how to be a good teacher, which is much more important. I am becoming a teacher, because I want to help students understand that they can reach that impossible goal in their minds such as being an artist or a doctor if they put the work in. I want more students to have a love of learning and to have hopes for the future. I understand that when I start teaching that it wont be easy and that my students wont always show an interest in what I am teaching, but I will do my best regardless. I hope in the future to inspire passion in my students and that I can be a positive influence in their lives as a teacher. That is what being a teacher means to me.

First Try

Hi... so this is my first attempt at blogging, which I am sure will be obvious. Blogging... yay. The only thing I can really think of saying at the moment is about the weather... ya I know. Cincinnati weather sucks, sorry but it is true. Sunny one day and the next day your running through the rain trying to survive the day.