sunday september 21

wow!  I have met a lot of awesome people!  Julio and his wife Maritza and their two daughters Rosemary and Kathryn.  I also got to meet their son Rayner via skype who lives in Seattle.  From Oregon a team of 4.. Keliah, Hannah, Nick, and Jesse.  In the church Miguel and Fani and their children.  Fernando, Michais, Amel, Guillermo, Marylacy* the list goes on!

I have left the states to serve in Barahona, Dominican Republic.

So far I have helped Jesse repair two of the book shelves that were at the school, Caritas Felicies.  Caritas Felicies is a nonprofit special needs school which only runs on offerings and donations.  While I am here I too am only surviving off (is it off or on..)  of donations from home.  Jesse was also able to build four new bookshelves.  He wanted to make another, as well as hangers for backpacks and lunch boxes.  He also repaired a desk for a new office.  Before he became a nurse, he used to build homes for work.    

I have a few of the photos in the about me section on my weebly page.  He didnt get to paint the bookshelves because he was only here for a week.  So far I have been asked to create a webpage for the school.  They have been wanting to create one for the past 3 years!  I was going to use weebly but I think I am going to use Wix.  At Eastern Nazarene college I took a class called education technology where we learned how to create sites as well as a few other things.  They have 6 computers for the 250 students, so in due time, I will teach education technology.  The first thing I want to do is raise money to get the children some sports balls to play with, as well as teach sports.  American football and ultimate Frisbee will be the easiest.  I am terrible at soccer and definitely cant teach, but I can show videos on YouTube I am sure.  Same with my 2nd love basketball.  While traveling around Barahona, I found a wrestling mat and had a heart attack.  

  With the soccer ball, the kids always try to play basketball.  I keep yelling sin manos.. which means no hands!  I want to show them both sports are fun.  

The worship team at the church does not need any of my help.  They are on a level that I can not match or pretend to follow.  The drummer has two splash cymbals with no crash so I also want to raise money for that.  

 This is a rushed post, I will try to share more asap!

  

MODULE 2 and Module 10

I think lesson planning will probably be the most difficult thing for me to do as I continue on my quest to become a teacher.  My lesson plans will need to be well written.  A lot of work will need to be put in.  I want to be able to CREATE.  on my own.  Making my own decisions on what I want to do to help show my students the way.  

I did not enjoy Module 10.  I have no comments.

Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools

The reading was about how are new world is using a new web with new skills developed and continuously developing every day.  I felt it focused on how people are and should be able to understand and use the basic uses of technology. Moreover it touched upon self-direction.  But also to be able to work in groups and teams and communicate accurately and effectively.  I really enjoy how it talks about the pushing of creativity and taking risks.  Being curious, asking questions, and making mistakes is how we learn.  As humans no one is "perfect", but that is what makes life perfect.  Moreover I thought the figure below was very interesting. 

Figure 1.1 | Comparison of old and new ways of working

Web 1.0 Web 2.0

Application based E Web based

Isolated E Collaborative

Offline E Online

Licensed or purchased E Free

Single creator E Multiple collaborators

Proprietary code E Open source

Copyrighted content E Shared content

oxford comma

            Power points are supposed to be a powerful tool for enhancing learning.  Clip art can be used and drawing tools can be used to keep students paying attention.  Photographs and backgrounds can be used to express creativity.  Communicating with a PowerPoint might be easy for some and difficult for others. 

NETS for Students:

           After reading about the national educational technology standards it makes me wonder what teaching in the classroom will be like.  I feel like because I am so used to using technology and working in groups with students my age, I am going to have to realize, if I teach 3rd grade for instance, I will have to be very patient.  More patient than I have to be now with adults.  I want to focus on being creative.  Creating new works and making sure the students are original and true to themselves.  I want them to forget about mistakes and to realize there isn’t anything to fear.  I want them to make decisions, accept their decision, and not look back.  Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making are constantly brought back up in what we need the students to learn.  We are constantly reminded about it, but it is such a key factor and important ingredient, that the constant reminders are necessary. 

21st Century Skills, Education and Competitiveness

             This article touches upon the changes in jobs, businesses, and the economy as a whole.  Jobs are shifting from manufacturing to services.  Businesses are changing and workers are receiving increased amounts of responsibility.  Moreover new skills and new jobs are being demanded.   Furthermore, the gap between the lowest- and highest-performing students needs to decrease.  All in all, the quality of teaching needs to be much better.  I feel it all goes back to the basics and the fundamentals.  Being able to work in teams, communicate effectively, think critically, and problem solve.  This can begin to be taught at a very young age to help students increase academic achievement and personal responsibility in the future.  When it is time for the real world, as teachers we need to develop conscientious and productive members of society in this constantly changing economy.