ISTE+Videos-+April

= Videos in April = [|A Gardener's Approach to Learning: Cultivating your Personal Learning Network] //David Warlick, [|website] [|blog]//

I really enjoyed Mr. Warlick's presentation and the analogy to gardening. Understanding that the process takes time and energy, that certain tools (blogs, wikis, etc.) are needed, and that you need to be willing to share with others. His sense of humor made the presentation easy to follow and enjoy. I liked that he started the presentation about sharing something new-something he had learned in the last 24 hours. I think that example encompasses the idea that we (teachers) need to continue to learn and grow. I find that I need to continually research answers to my questions, and I need to learn how to teach my students the same skills. I found his reference that we live in a "I want it now" society, comparing information to fast food very interesting (and I agree).

[|Digital Learners in the Industrial Classroom: Are Our Students Leaving Us in the Digital Dust?] //Adam Garry, Dell with Teachers & Students Garnet Valley School District//

This was an interesting presentation hearing about the students uses of social networking, in and out of school. The students shared the reasons they enjoy social networking and the benefits of using it for and in school. Even the teachers shared how they have used social networking in their classes. I am not sure how I feel about using facebook in school. I would like the opportunity to try it with my students, but the school district does not allow it. I use a LMS that allows some social media type interaction, but facebook and pinterest are the sites the students are using. The ability to use social media in the schools would allow for additional instruction on web ettiquate and web safety, issues the students are required to learn.