I'm here sitting in my EdTech class and we are talking about the projects that we have left!  We have to do this masterpiece project as a whole class.  WE came up with this idea and Dr. Heigle agreed to let us do it.  We are going to make one big project that is broken down into different sub-groups and each sub-group has a topic that ties into a theme.  So, that being said, it seems like it is going to be very interesting to see how we can work together as a team to come up with something fresh and new!

Mondays are always the worst for me... I have 9 hours of class, it is like torture! haha But once I get through today, I just have one class on tuesday and then I am homeward bound, THANK GOD.  I cannot wait to see my parents and family for Thanksgiving!


Hope you have a great Monday everyone!


Ryan :)

Hello Everyone,

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Ever since my birthday I have not been on here posting so I will do my best to catch everyone up.  Nothing too exciting has happened in my life.  At this point I feel like I am just going through the motions with work and school.  I go to class, do homework and go to work, it is like a never ending cycle!

Anyways, Thanksgiving is this week and I am beyond excited for a nice little break from school!  It also means that the semester is quickly coming to an end!  Words cannot explain how excited I am for Christmas break!  AHHHHH!

I taught my first lesson last week at Kilbourne Middle School.  It went really well, the kids seemed to enjoy themselves and I managed the classroom well.  My lesson was on Greek Philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle.  Teaching was easy, it was the planning process that seemed to take a lot of my time.  I incorporated technology into my lesson by using the smartboard!  I do love writing on the smartboard and presenting documents on it as well, it is a great tool for teachers to use.

Hope everyone has a great week!  

Ryan :)

Hellllo :) 

I hope everyone had a good weekend!  Monday is almost here :( I am not ready for the week to start because of the mass amounts of homework that I have!  I have three projects that I have to complete this week.  They aren't all due until next week, however this weekend is my 21st Birthday so lets just say I will be participating in some festivities!  

The first project I have is this "This We Believe" project for my middle school methods class.  I have to survey the middle school I am in and make sure that they meet the 16 characteristics of a good middle school!  It should not be too hard because the middle school I am in is great!  

The second project is what I am worried about.  It is the YAAP project.  It has three parts and is much more extensive.  It involves getting to know the kids and the issues that they are going through.  So it takes a little more time!  

Overall though I am looking forward to getting my work done and then having some fun this weekend for my birthday!!! 

Have a good week everyone!

Ryan :) 

Hi everyone!

I hope everyone is having a great week!  It is nearing an end thank God, I am ready for the weekend and a little break...

I am keeping busy tonight however studying for my music theory exam tomorrow.  I am by no means a music major, obviously I am an Education major, however at Otterbein you have to take integrative courses to get the "liberal arts" education.  Otterbein says that it broadens your horizons, or something like that I guess.  Anyways, the class is not too terribly bad, I do enjoy listening to the music and our professor is great!  She is new to Otterbein and its nice to see a new face and experience a professor from a different University.

Friday I have a math quiz in the morning and then I will be working at night!  Looking forward to making some money so I can pay the bills! haha.  The perks of being somewhat of an adult.  :)

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

Ryan :)

Happy Monday everyone,

I cannot tell you how excited I am to be done with this day, currently curled up in my bed trying to stay warm, as it is freezing outside and the remnants of Hurricane Sandy are heading our direction.  The wind is picking up and blowing the garbage cans every which way.  Needless to say I am ready for this storm to pass, but the bad news is, it is supposed to last all week long.  So I guess we all better get used to it!

Today was a pretty productive day I'd say.  My classes went well and I feel like I got a lot accomplished in terms of homework and projects that are upcoming!  I just need to focus like this more and I will be able to get things done with ease, instead of waiting till the last minute and being rushed.  So I am going to try to be more like this.... FOCUSED.

On a lighter note, my birthday is coming up pretty quickly!  November 11 is coming up surprisingly fast!  I am beyond excited because I am turning 21!  Finally legal to have a drink with my parents at dinners!  haha!  I'm not sure what I am going to do the night of my bday, but hopefully something fun and exciting!  It is something I am definitely looking forward to in the next couple weeks!

Anyways, I hope everyone has a good tuesday! :) Stay warm!

Ryan :)

Pros and Cons of Flipping in the Classroom

Pros
- Students will be able to learn at their own pace.
-Students are able to help one another on challenging tasks.
-Flipped classroom allows for time for actual student to teacher work to occur in the classroom instead of a lecture during class students can do activities.
-Less behavior problems (studies have shown).
-Teachers are better able to notice a moment of struggle with students and is able to tend to it right away.

Cons
-What if the students are not watching the videos?
-Some children do not have internet access at home.
-Systems of tracking can develop.

I cannot really think of any more cons, Flipping if done the right way can be a very good way to run your classroom.  You must make sure that the students are staying involved in watching your lectures, because if they are not, then they will most definitely be behind in the classroom activities that you present to them.

Ryan :)

Hello Everyone,

I hope you all had a great weekend!  I worked all weekend at the New Albany Tennis Center, it was good, I enjoy teaching tennis and working with kids so if you put both together then I'm bound to have a good time!

Last thursday I completed my teacher tools video presentation for my Ed Tech class.  I use the Xtranormal site to make an animated video explaining how to use my favorite teacher tool website.  I was very happy with how easy it was to make the video.  It only took me about 20 minutes to make the video, edit it, and publish it!  Overall I was pleased with the experience.  I will definitely use this site in the future to present directions to my future classes.

I am now drowning in homework, trying to finish everything else up before the week starts.  The next couple of weeks are going to be super busy, it seems I just have a lot of projects due around the same time, which is unfortunate, however I am going to try my best to get all of it done!

Have a good week everyone!

Ryan :)