How Can I Use This in My Classroom?

     I can use all of the things that I did today in my classroom. Before this class I was kind of anti-technology, but after today I realize how fun and simple it can be to use. I would love to use blackboard in my classroom. I think that the group discussion feature is really cool. Often times, kids are reluctant to speak up in class, but I think that they would be more willing to share their feelings if they could type them out and not say them in front of the class.
     I also think that it would be fun to use the "Makey Makey" Application in my class because it would be fun way to teach kids about electricity and make them eager to learn. Especially when dealing with children in the special education classroom, this application would be fun and they would learn a lot while enjoying themselves. I can't wait to explore the different types of technology that I could use in my classroom!

What will the technology be like in my classroom in the future?

     The technology I will use in my classroom will definitely be different than the technology teachers use in the classroom today. Already in my lifetime, technology has progressed from using overhead projectors to using smart boards and apple devices. I think that in the future, technology will be even faster, and we will be able to maybe even control technological devices without having to physically touch them. Technology might even take the form of a hologram that will allow us to touch and change without having to use a computer monitor. Who knows, we might even be able to have hologram simulators that allow students to request a certain date, and be able to have a hologram/interactive picture of that time period appear and be available to them. Honestly, the possibilities are endless.
     I also think that technology will become available to all students. I think that eventually, all students will be issued a school tablet or computer, and will be able to do more homework at home. I think that in fifty years, I-pads and other devices like it will be outdated. I honestly am not very technologically savvy, so I have no idea what crazy things could be created! Maybe a headset that could read your thoughts will be invented, and will sync directly to your computer! That way, you won't have to type anything into google, the computer will know exactly what you want! The way technology is developing in our country, anything could happen!

How can you use Sphere in your classroom?

     I think Sphere is a very interesting and entertaining app. There are many different ways that I could use the Sphere in my classroom (either Spanish or Special Education), but especially with Special Education. We could use the Sphere outside on sunny days, or on cloudy days to use later to analyze different types of weather. I could also use the Sphere to take pictures of a piece of scenery that is meaningful to the student. The student could then use the picture they took as a visual aid as they write a paragraph or an essay about the place that is important to them.
     Students could also use spheres that already exists and explore different places on the earth. If a student were to explore the ocean, or the Eiffel Tower, they could write about their experiences. It could be a good daily warm-up for students to choose a location on the Sphere app, explore it, and then write a paragraph about what they found. They could even go further and use imagination and think outside of the box. In history classes, students could even use the Sphere to find pictures of important monuments, like the ones in Washington D.C. The Sphere would be helpful in bringing interactive visual aids in to the classroom, instead of traditional photographs, or only descriptions. The Sphere could also be useful for older students interested in looking into colleges because they could see campus without having to physically go there (even though this may not be something I could use in my classroom, it would be a good resource for kids).
     Finally, this would be something to reward my students with after working all day. Students love technology, and sometimes they can be distracted by it. If I used it as a reward, it would not be as much of a distraction, and students work hard, knowing that they could work with technology if they do a good job.

What's Your Passion?

     As an education major, I would like to say that my passion is helping others and making a difference in people's lives. The videos said that passion is something that you are willing to put before all else. You might not always be happy, and you might even be unhappy when pursuing your passion because things will get tough, but having a passion is being willing to give up everything for your passion. Having real passion, is working only for what you love, and not worrying about anything else.
     This definition changed my passion from being about things such as 4-H and baking to volunteering and pursuing a degree in education. I absolutely love volunteering and making a difference for others. I love going into my community and helping those who are less fortunate, but it isn't always easy. It is hard to make the time to volunteer and find times for my difficult classes, but I know that the end result will be worth it.

Video #1 Reflection - You Matter

For this first post, I was asked by my Instructional Technology professor to watch three videos and reflect on them. I have separate reflections for the first to videos, and the last video. I also have a final reflection that demonstrates how I connected the different videos, and what they meant to me.

   

     The first and second videos were extremely interesting, and I also thought that they were wonderfully motivational. After watching these videos, I really felt like I could go out and change the world through kindness, and I want to remind myself to make everybody around me feel important. The first video talked about how the words, "You Matter" can change somebody's heart, mind, and life. We as humans were born to be of significance. We often are not told how appreciated we are, and since we don't hear how appreciated we are, we often times put ourselves down, and question our purpose and importance. In addition to not feeling appreciated, we do not tell others how appreciated they are. After hearing this, I realized how correct this statement was. I have always enjoyed being looked at straight in the face and told that I made a difference in somebody's life. Of course, it's always nice to think that if I hadn't been around, somebody would miss me, and something great wouldn't have happened without my contribution. We all like to think that our presence has made a difference and resulted in something fantastic. This video made me think of my mom. My mom is probably the most generous person I know. Every time we go to a nice sit-down restaurant, my mom always calls the manager over to our table and tells him how wonderful our waiter or waitress was, (unless they were absolutely horrible, of course). I always felt good after the manager smiled and the waiter or waitress thanked my mom for saying such nice things, but I never thought about how wonderful they must have really felt. Additionally, although my mother makes sure everybody around her feels appreciated, she herself is seldom praised, which is something that needs to change. Recently, I went to Walgreens to have some pictures taken for my passport, and the woman who helped me was quite introverted, but she was extremely helpful. So, I told her manager how great she had been and how easy she made the whole picture-taking process. The manager was very pleased, and I know that the woman was proud of herself when she heard what I had said about her. People that are in low-skilled jobs often feel like they don't have a purpose. They are usually just trying to make ends meet and they don't feel like their job is very important. Being complemented, and knowing that a person would not have had a good experience doing little things like eating at a restaurant or getting pictures taken, makes that person feel appreciated, and hopefully gives them motivation to continue being themselves and truly believe that they are making a difference in people's lives. By acknowledging others, people will continue to try and make even more of a difference in the world. Imagine a world where everybody was kind to one another and appreciative! How spectacular! However, simply saying that somebody matters isn't enough, a person must truly mean what they say and express why that person is valuable. If people know that they are noticed, they are more likely to start believing that they are true geniuses and that the world needs and appreciates their contributions. We must depend on others, and that is only possible if we trust that we will be noticed. We are lucky enough to have the pleasure of being able to make people matter, so why not do it?

     The third video intrigued me the most out of all the videos because it talked about passion-based learning. I always said that I am an education major because I have a passion for education. However, I didn't know what passion really meant. I love everything about education. I love the learning part of it, I love the friendship part of it, and I love the fact that students can discover so many different things all in one day! I've wanted to be a teacher for a long time. I'm willing to work very hard to become a teacher and nothing will stop me from completing my goals. Passion is about doing what you must do. It's about caring for something so much that you have to do it. When you can't rely on anything else, you will still somehow endure and continue on because you still need to be there for your students. Passion is beyond personal agendas, it is about teamwork and collaboration. Passion makes us care. We can't create passion, it is expressed implicitly, but when we ask the students we teach what matters to them, that is caring about them and increasing our passion, and that is the essence of teaching with passion-based learning. As an educator, it is essential that I provide times for passion to be nurtured and thrive. I need to find out what matters to my students so I can integrate a passion for learning in them. Passion is the key that opens the doors liberates genius. I absolutely loved at the end of the video when one of the speakers stated Mr. Rogers quote, "Every student deserves to have a teacher filled with passion stand in front of them and in their presence everyday." This video was riveting. It made me realize that education is my calling and that I can make a difference.

     These videos were outstanding! After watching them, I can't wait to start my career as an educator and make a different in children's lives. I always wanted to make a difference. At one point and time I wanted to be a doctor because I wanted to save lives, but I realize that educators can make just as much of a difference is somebody's life. I realize that through encouragement and acknowledgement, people's lives can be changed. I also can't wait to demonstrate my passion in the classroom and make children passionate about learning and their own interests. I want my students to be confident, disciplined, dedicated, and willing to work with others. These videos display two qualities that all teachers should have. I can't wait to further my knowledge about education and all the things that go with it so I can be the best educator I can, and make a difference in the lives of my students.

Introduction to Blogging

     My name is Ronnie Brust. I am a freshman from Ithaca, NE. I am a Spanish and Special Education double major. In my free time I enjoy working with animals (especially sheep, goats, dogs, and chickens), working on 4-H projects, baking, running, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends. On campus, I am involved in SEA, DAEYC, Sertoma, the Hansen Leadership Program, the Honors Program, Spanish Club, and SPB. I also volunteer on Thursday nights at the ESL program at Crete Elementary School. I am majoring in Spanish and Special Education with a Secondary Education endorsement. I am interested in education because I have liked it since I was in fifth grade. I think it is amazing that one student can learn so many things in one day. I believe that free education in our country is something that many people take for granted and I would like to make education as wonderful as it can be and spread it to as many people as I can. I have always loved giving back and I really want to make a difference in the world.