Interesting Article

Here is an article I found, and I think it is quite interesting. The students in this school have their own Tablet PCs (I have one!) and I think it is an experience like none other, especially when discussing technology in the classroom for this course. The link is: http://www.digiops.org.nz/news/currentnews/Tablet+pc+trial+going+well+at+Brooklyn+School.htm. This article reminded me of how interactive classrooms can really be. Students all have their own Tablet PC for use, so they are not relying on computer rooms for teaching courses. I wonder if the students feel that they have learned more by having their own PC in class.

Teaching Philosophy

Now that we have gotten into the course a bit more, and will have a teaching philosophy revolving around technology due next week, I have come to realize that I need a teaching philosophy on paper! During College ESL practicum meetings, our director says a lot about our own philosophy, and everyone's philosophy will be different, but in the end, we all have a philosophy whether we think about it or not. Now, I have been thinking about a philosophy from those meetings, but never actually had to produce anything in these three semesters of being in the program.
Professor Kilborn's articles on D2L are pretty useful in getting my brain to think on specific aspects of teaching philosophies instead of just getting jumbled and frustrated with the "big picture."

Writing for personal reasons

While Moo'ing last night, I brought up that writing for personal reasons would help in writing for academic purposes. Many comments were sent back to me about this, that there is no place for personal writing in the classroom for academic purposes. I disagree with this because I feel that any way that an individual can express themselves is a good expression, and then an academic focus can be developed from where they begin. I feel there is a level at which all students are at, and from their can go up. Perhaps it makes a difference if it is an L1 or L2. I feel that as an L2, a student will start at point X, they will build their own confidence in writing in a second language, especially English. Perhaps others thought for the purposes of ENGL 191 purposes. When I took ENGL 191, I knew there were no writings on personal topics, but a large research paper was involved. When I enrolled in the TESL program and saw the program requirements and essay formats they will learn, they most often begin with a narrative essay. Therefore, in this purpose, writing for personal expression in a part of the required assignments. From there, they will learn how to write in a more academic way in that the instructor will still look at, read, and "correct" their paper. So, perhaps in MOO I was not very clear as to in what context I was referring personal writing benefitting students the most.

Technology in use

This is not necessarily a comment about technology in classrooms, but a general comment about technology in general. I was watching an infomercial today, yes an infomercial, called Winning in the Cash Flow Business. As I was watching, the representatives and individuals who have succeeded in such a business were talking so convincingly that it can work for everyone. I know this is the general nature of infomercials, but I thought about it - and perhaps they were right. They said it was a three-step process: 1. find, 2. post, and 3. sell. Something of that nature. So, in general, the computer has become useful for many different purposes for many different individuals. I then went online and Googled this business name, and the first couple links were paid advertisements for this business, but the first one not paid was "infomercial scams" and a woman saying how the infomercial was not like it sounded in the commercial, blah, blah, blah.
I have purchased items seen on infomercials, some were not great, so I sent them back! Others, I really like and they do indeed do what they said they would do. So, I believe that an "everyone can do it" approach does not always work. There are individuals who like something and others do not. That is just the nature of humans! Think about it: PC versus Mac? VHS vs. DVD? Some individuals do not go with the flow of changes, and that is perfectly okay, as long as it is still made available. I think about when my parents purchased our first computer when I was in high school. It came with a ZIP drive and an optional DVD player (it came with CD player). We said, no, that's okay. What do you know? DVDs became popular! Now, we have updated that computer for a much cheaper (and more advanced) version, and there is no such thing as a ZIP drive anymore! So, I went to the HelpDesk on campus to borrow theirs. I mean, if a ZIP worked, then why change it?
One last point to make, is when I was using a camcorder from campus. It uses MiniDV tapes (I hate tapes, by the way!). So I was wondering how to get that video to my students (my director said she had emailed each to her students). It connected with a FireWire cable. My laptop does not have it, and the helpdesk technicians said a Mac computer would have it. But not only do you need the cable, you need a particular program to run to get it off! So, to make a long story short, some technological advances are great, and others are just plain frustrating! To this day, from last semester, I still have those darn tapes and have not been able to get that information off of the tapes and into an email attachment for them.

Shift Happens

I hope to bring this up at some point when we actually have a "Hey, Look what I found!" day for this class, but I thought the very first night of class about this video. A potential SCSU hire came to our International Marketing class (MKTG 416) Fall 2007 and I was blown away. I REALLY like this video on YouTube. Go Check it Out!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q

It's about globalization and it's effects. So, for example, the beginning says that if you're 1 in a million in China, there are 1,300 people just like you, and 1,100 in India just like you! Also, the prospect for future jobs, and topics such as that. The slide show does everything - there is just music in the background, so even if you don't have sound where you view this, you can watch and read.

Multitasking

For this class, we read an article, Myth of Multitasking, and am interested in learning more about this topic, and how it relates to classroom learning. I believe that multitasking can help you in your daily life, and technology has definitely kept up on its part! I myself have an iPhone. It does everything and more - I can use it for a phone, I can use it for checking my email, I can add events on a calendar, I can set alarms, I can use it as an iPod feature and listen to music or audiobooks, I can check my stocks on it with one touch of the finger, I can take photos, and the list goes on and on. However, even with this great gadget, if I may say it is, I still find myself not getting done what I need to get done. Everything on that phone is useful, but meaningful. I really need to put my iPhone down, sit down at my desk, and read. Yes, read. Read on paper. I am so used to reading PDFs that I really dislike reading textbooks, or even printed journal articles for that matter. I really just need to read.
Christine Rosen, "The Myth of Multitasking," The New Atlantis, Number 20, Spring 2008, pp. 105-110.

Thesis Topics

As I am in my Master's program, I know that all of my classes are in preparation for my thesis. I have not had Research Methods yet (probably in Fall 2009), but when taking Sociolinguistics, I did a paper on Social Networks (which a good friend of mine chose her thesis topic on). I wonder if some information from this class could be useful for my thesis? What about other possible thesis topics? I am always thinking of possible thesis topics along the way through classes, but have not had any calling my name yet.. Maybe I can put some class information together? SLA + Sociolinguistics + Technology?? We'll see.

Favorite Picture of the Family

Here is a picture of Daniel, Keona, and I from Halloween 2008!

This is to test the beginnings of my blogging experience!
As the title of this blog is M.A student, mother, etc., I am a person who wears many different hats different nights of the week, even different hats throughout any given day. Therefore, I can be seen sometimes just running nonstop from one place to the next, be it class to class, or school to home to gymnastics!