Blog Post #3

Peer Editing
Peer editing is probably one of the most difficult things for me.  I always feel like I'm being a "Picky Patty" or a "Know It All Nancy".  Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes was a very entertaining and effective way to show the many mistakes made by those not only doing the editing but also by those who are receiving the advice.  The tutorial on peer editing was also great.  I love the way they simplified editing into 3 steps; compliments, suggestions, and corrections.  I believe all of the information will be very helpful not only as a tool for peer editing but also as a tool for examining my own writings.  Did I make good word choices?  Did I use details and write complete sentences?  Did I use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation?  I hope that I would catch all of these things myself, but if not, please do not hesitate to be a "Helpful Heloise" and offer hints on how to improve my writing skills.
I also gave a lot of thought as to how I would offer suggestions to my peers about their blogs.  I thought about how I would want someone to offer me their suggestions.  I think if I had a small number of errors that were minor in nature, like I didn't notice the word to should have been too, then I wouldn't mind having those pointed out publicly in a reply to my post.  However, if the mistakes are numerous and things that require a great amount of correction, then I might would prefer those pointed out in a private email.  I think with every situation you have to use your best judgement.  That's why it's good to have the option of offering suggestions publicly or privately.

Assistive Technologies
Wow!  As a future math teacher, I found the Teaching Math to the Blind video most interesting.  I have never considered what it would be like to try to teach basic math concepts to someone who is visually impaired.  The AutoMathic blocks were amazing.  I also thought the Mountbatten was pretty incredible too.  I immediately wondered if any of our local schools had access to this technology?  Will I have access to this technology, if needed?
As a future math teacher, I honestly don't know how I would teach basic concepts to someone who is visually impaired if I did not have access to some type of technology.  You have to be able to take what they feel and hear and turn it into something they can visualize and organize.  If I needed to acquire an AutoMathic or something of that nature for my classroom, I would begin by writing a grant request to local organizations whose purpose is to raise money to support additional needs within the schools.
I think Apple has designed wonderful programs for impaired people.  I have a nephew who has Down Syndrome and has difficulty speaking.  My sister-in-law installed an app on his iPad to enable him to communicate with others.  These programs not only meet physical needs, they offer students so much more.  There are three phrases from the first video, Assistive Technologies for Vision and Hearing Impaired Children, that I believe are the foundation of why we become educators; to "remove barriers", "push boundaries", and "give hope".

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
When this video began, I automatically recognized Vicki Davis as the "Cool Cat Teacher" from the Pinterest assignment.  I am following her on Pinterest and Twitter.  She has wonderful ideas for empowering students and designing a classroom that is outside the box.  I have bookmarked the edutopia website for quick access as I plan to return there to browse the site by grade level.  I also want to explore the Digital Generation Project.  I love that she turns her classroom over to the children to give them the opportunity to teach.  I'm not one that likes to be upfront the whole time either and I look forward to searching her site for ways to incorporate that type of learning into a math class.
This is the future of the classroom.  As the state of Alabama continues to move toward the Digital Renaissance, we will see high school classrooms that mirror the same style of teaching and learning that is demonstrated in the video.  All students will eventually have laptops.  The technology will be available but will we be ready to use it, to teach it, and to empower with it?