My Reflection

Blog Post#14

Top Ten Tips for Using Technology in the classroom:
This video, by Jose Piscardo, lists and explain his ten suggestions for using technology as an educational tool. Throughout the semester, I have learned a lot about the importance of technology in today’s schools.
Of the ten suggestions, the two that have already found the most useful are blogs and teleconferencing. Blogs have proved to be great writing practice and offer global feedback. I plan on having a class blog for my history class with weekly assignments based on required readings. Reading requires reflection, and writing about each reading is a must if anything is to be learned.

Teleconferencing tools, such as Skype, are great. Until this class, I never even thought about using Skype in the classroom. It offers advantages in collaboration and feedback. For instance, a history class in Mobile, AL can communicate with a history class in California when discussing similar topics. Also, a class can talk to the authors of the material they have read.

However, I am not very familiar with ITunes nor am I in full understanding of how it helps students in the classroom. I am sure it does have some advantages, and I am the one who needs to become more familiar with its features. As I have said throughout the semester, I plan to be willing learn as much as possible for the benefit of the students; education requires an open and rational mind.

PLN Final Report

My personal learning network includes the things we have used the most in EDM310. I am excited about making contacts and adding more history education links to my personal learning network. I hope my PLN helps me develop the tools to become a great high school history teacher.

Final Project

Additional Assignment

I recently did a post on Tom Johnson's post Don Let Them Take the Pencils Home. Pencils were a metaphor for computers, and I was informed that I missed it. I would not say I totally missed it. My mistake was failing to address it as a metaphor in my post. I understood it, I just did not say it right. I called it sarcasm. I probably said this because of the amount of sarcasm I have experienced in EDM310.

I do think metaphors are a comfortable way to explain and discuss certain topics. My Grandmother always referenced the Bible when giving her children advice. And just the other day my Dad told me I was "straining out gnats and swallowing camels" Matthew 23:24. He meant that I was worrying too much about petty stuff and ignoring important things.

As educators, we can help our students by using metaphors, but we should never assume that everyone is going to catch them. And when they don't, the student needs to know it is okay. We can then explain the metaphor, and give an assignment on metaphors, such as the on Dr. Strange has assigned to me. Metaphors are important, and they make good brain exercise.

Blog Post#13

My Teacher is an App:
The Article by Stephanie Banchero and Stephanie Simon is about the reality of online learning. Like it or not, we must acknowledge the internet’s daily role in the education of young people all over the world. However, the question remains, should all learning be done online?

The authors give great statistics from both sides the argument. Online learning is especially beneficial to the student that learns at a faster pace. Learning online allows that student to take classes at a higher grade level. Online learning is flexible, and allows a great deal of parental involvement. And finally, it is cheaper. But, have you ever heard the phrase “you get what you pay for?” Several statistics demonstrate low test scores among students of online schools. Those in charge say they are used to this. One reason is that many of the students enrolled are not the type of learner that online learning is built for. Banchero and Simon believe that the effectiveness of online learning depends on how we approach it, and students cannot do it all by themselves; in order to learn, they still need to be taught.

I believe that the authors are very open minded and present great evidence. They allow the reader to think about all possibilities. I feel that online learning is still evolving and should be monitored closely. With that being said, I would like to see more online learning incorporated into the traditional school. It would have helped me so much more if I had been given the opportunity to experiment with virtual learning in my younger years. My college professors expect me to be familiar with web enhanced classes. I do not care what it costs to educate a student. I dislike the argument that something is cheaper. You should not put a price on a child’s education. If we truly care about the student, then money should not even be part of the discussion. Bottom line, we need to do all we can to help students get ready for adulthood, whether it is more or less web enhanced learning.

Project #15 Part 2

C4K November

C4K#10
THis week I visited Mrs. Yollis' Class Blog. She has a remarkable blog, and her students post great videos and projects they have done inn class. I commented on November is Family Blogging Month. The class has gone to great lengths to get their family members involved in their blogging. I told them that there is nothing better than having a loved one show interest in your work.

Dear Mrs. Yollis' class,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I think it is wonderful that you are involving family members with your blogging. I have found blogging as a great way to enhance writing skills and creativity. By involving your family members, they are able to see how hard you are working. Having parents tell you how proud they are of your hard work is the warmest feedback anyone can receive. As a veteran of the United States Navy, I really appreciated the Veterans Day post. It is great to know that our young people are learning about respect and dedication. It was a touching post, and you should be proud of it. I look forward to seeing future posts. Keep up the hard work.

Sincerely,
Kevin Hutchinson

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C4K#11
Today I post a comment on the blog of fifth grade student at Pt. England School Auckland, New Zealand Wyatt. Wyatt visited a local observatory, and took a close look at our solar system. Wyatt says really enjoyed this field trip because of his interest in our solar system. He asked if I could name the planets, and I listed them for him. I told him my shock of the news of Pluto's downgrade form planet to dwarf planet. Wyatt seems to really enjoy studying the solar system, and I encouraged Wyatt to never end educational journey through space.

Hey Wyatt,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I think observatories are really neat. Unfortunately, I have never been able to visit one. I am sorry to hear about your injuries. I hope they did not ruin the entire experience for you. The planets were always one of my favorite science subjects. The eight planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Is this correct? I went to school my entire life believing Pluto was a planet, and I was very surprised at the news of it being demoted to a dwarf. It seems like you went on an awesome field trip, and you apparently learned a lot. Keep up your hard work studying our solar system.

C4K# Part One

Mrs. Yollis'class blog does a great job demonstrating the positive effects technology can have on students. Mrs. Yollis is a third grade teacher in a suburban area of Los Angeles, CA. Her students absolutely love blogging. Mrs. Yollis has given her students a voice which can be heard around the globe. Her class blog has been visited over 75,000 times. The students have been able to blog and post videos that receives global feedback and collaboration. Skyping with Australia is something I could have never imagined doing at seven years old. She has shown her dedication to being technologically willing to do anything for the benefit of her students by taking the time to attend the Google Geo Teachers'Institute at the Google home office. Her video on Google earth showed how her students could view 3D images of buildings right there in Los Angeles.

As a veteran, I really enjoyed the veterans video on her class blog. I think it is great that she is introducing her students to veterans of our nation's armed forces. In short, Mrs. Yollis' class blog offers students, parents, and teachers an opportunity to teach learn and evaluate to the maximum extent.

Final Project Progress Report

For a final project, my group has decided to ours on how to make good use of the different skills we have learned in EDM310. For example, we want students, parents, and teachers to see the advantages of using programs such as skype. This class has taught us to put aside our biases, and we want to spread the word to those that have not been fortunate enough to take a class like EDM310. We are planning on each person demonstrating the one thing they found the most useful in EDM310.

Skype Interview

Blog Post#12

EDM 310 has been an interesting class thus far. It has also been a bit of an eye opener. I have spent the semester championing the term technologically “willing.” At the start of the semester I will admit to being technologically “unwilling.” However, I have really found blogging to be quite useful. As we have noticed throughout the semester, blogging gives the student and the class a worldwide audience. Blogging creates a never ending “wormhole” of learning. It enhances creativity and helps develop good writing skills.

But, I do believe the assignments were centered too much around elementary education majors. We watched a lot of videos and commented on many kids and teachers blogs. Most of it was elementary in nature or simply not very specific at all. I do not think they were bad assignments. In fact they were all very interesting; they gave me an opportunity to experience new things. But, I think there should be a blog assignment that is teacher specific. For example a secondary education history major should come up with a blog assignment they would assign their future students. This blog assignment should focus on giving us an opportunity to practice creating helpful tasks for our future students at whatever level we plan to teach.

As a secondary history major, I would like to make the study of primary historical documents the center of the high school history class. Primary documents are rarely studied in depth at the high school level, which leaves major firsthand accounts out of the lesson. The study of firsthand accounts throughout history is essential in understanding history instead of just memorizing names and dates to regurgitate later for an exam. I want my future students to use blogging to respond to a primary document they have been assigned.

Instructions for new EDM 310 assignment:
Think of a blog assignment for your future students. Create this assignment based on the level and subject you plan to teach. For example, if you plan on teaching high school history, come up with an assignment relevant to a subject you would discuss with your students.

The assignment I want my future students to do is a primary document analysis following these criterion:
Compare and contrast the following documents: Bacon's Declaration in the Name of the People, 30 July 1676 and Governor William Berkley on Bacon’s Rebellion, 19 May 1676.
1. Identify and explain both men’s methods of gaining support for their arguments.
2. Is this a political or social rebellion?
3. After reading and analyzing these two documents, who do you believe to be the victims, if there are any?

C4T#4

I visited the blog of Joe Bower, a teacher in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Mr. Bower posted a paragraph from Pasi Sahlberg's book Finnish Lessons discussing how the Finnish education system has not become corrupted by a heavy emphasis on standardized testing. Heavy emphasis on standardized testing in Finland has not seemed relevant to student learning; thus it is not worth compromising an already effective curriculum.

Hi Mr. Bower,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I found this paragraph quite interesting. I have never been a fan of "high-stakes standardized testing." I do not believe it positively affects how a student learns. These tests turn educators into test teachers, and the students learn how to take tests instead of learning something relevant to actual education. Also, students who are not great test takers are left with a stigma of underachievement. Many of these test are timed and culturally biased. Students with great academic ability may be excluded from college opportunities. Point being, heavy emphasis on standardized test taking causes education systems to lose sight of the ultimate objective of student learning. This is a great post.

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I visited Joe Bower's blog for a second time this month, and once again he had a great post about the flaws and inaccuracies of standardized testing. His post encourages educators and parents to grade their school system by the tangible learning being done rather than tallying the test scores each year.

Hello Mr. Bower,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I agree completely with your post. Standardized tests are a horrible measuring stick for student learning. Test scores prove how well a student can prepare for a test. After the test is over, the information is usually gone, and the student has learned nothing. Project based learning and writing exercises, such as blogging, are the way to go. It eliminates what Dr. Strange calls "burp-back" learning. I enjoyed reading your post.

Blog Post#11

Mrs. Cassidy’s Techniques
Mrs. Cassidy’s first graders did a wonderful job putting together a video of the many positives of using technology in the classroom. Through blogging the students are able to practice writing skills and receive feedback on their posts, and the wiki use seemed to really help with their research and collaboration as well.

As a history teacher, I have become a fan of blogging and reading blogs because of the amount analyzing and writing experience it gives a student. In the Mrs. Cassidy Skype Interview, she made a great point about the “audience” a student receives by blogging. I would love to do weekly blogging assignments in my history class; it would make in class discussions more engaging if the student has already had to give their own response to the reading. And with blogging having such a large audience, the discussion continues outside the classroom. I have always been a fan of guest speakers, but I realize the difficulty of scheduling. I would love to use Skype to have history professors speak to my class and answer their questions. This was a wonderful post and an educating interview.

Blog Post #10

Do You Teach or Do You Educate?
This video does a great job drawing a line between teaching and educating. I definitely believe there is a difference. Teaching is an instructional process only allowing someone to obtain and regurgitate information; it leaves out substance. Educating can leave lasting impact on a student. An educated student never stops learning.

My Mother was an English teacher for thirty-five years, and it was her passion for educating that has inspired me to become an educator. She had profound impact on every student that entered her classroom. As a future history teacher, I want my students to leave my classroom remembering more than names and dates. I want them to know and understand the significance of those names and dates. I hope my educating will encourage more young people to seek truth and understanding for the rest of their lives. People should never stop thinking and asking questions.


Tom Johnson's Don't Let Them Take the Pencils Home!
Tom Johnson’ argument is similar to one I have developed. As an educator, be willing to work to your students’ strengths. Give students access to whatever equipment will help them learn be more interested in opportunity rather than accountability. That goes for all students and all learning. Don’t make assumptions about marginalized students.

However, his argument does have one flaw; it is too satirical. I read some of the other comments, and many people drew different and somewhat inaccurate conclusions. When making an argument, sarcasm should be used sparingly. I feel he may have lost, if not insulted, his audience through his sarcastic tone.

Blog Post#9

May 27, 2009 What I've Learned This Year (2008-09)
Mr. McClung has done a great thing reflecting on his school year. He automatically has the right idea about understanding his audience. In the first part of this blog he seemed to have the same epiphany Rafe Esquith had when he met his wife. I did a podcast a few weeks ago on analyzing excerpts from Rafe Esquith’s book There Are No Shortcuts. Esquith describes the moment he realized teaching was not about personal success. Like Esquith, Mr. McClung realized in only one year that teaching is a humble and selfless profession that is to benefit students.


Expect the unexpected. I am reminded of Mr. Pausch’s advice in my first post. Things are not always going to be perfect, but they still have to get done. Not getting overwhelmed and improvising when things go wrong is a great example to set for students. Meaning, just because the plan does not go according and not everyone learned their math lesson that day, does not mean the kids have not learned something valuable; they have learned something about their teacher. It is important that you maintain a stable environment. Keep your composure.

Communication is a must. However, it is important remember that communication is a two-way street. Listen to your peers and especially your students; they are always watching and listening to you, whether you realize it or not.

As any educator in the 21st century knows, advances in technology enter the lives of our students every day; thus they enter the classroom. Well, this is definitely not the first time I have read something of this nature this semester. This goes along with my theory that we all need to be technologically “willing.” But I do disagree with Mr. McClung on his position that modern technology is essential in our society. It is a reality in a student’s life, and we must put our biases aside for the benefit of our students’ futures. Awareness is different from dependence.

Mr. McClung closes his first reflection telling us to “never stop learning.” There has never been a more true statement. As I said, kids may not always pay attention to your lesson, but that does not mean they are not watching your every move and picking apart every word you speak. If they see you as a pompous know-it-all, they will never entertain the idea of learning something from someone who cannot possibly know everything.

This post has reminded me to remain humble and put my students first. Also, I have realized that my students’ success will depend on my ability to handle any obstacle and always have a willingness to learn from my mistakes as well as be open to new techniques.

June 23, 2011 What I Learned This Year (2010-11)
It was nice to see that three years after his first reflection Mr. McClung is still humble in his profession. The opening to this post mirrors Mr. McClung’s first reflection. Three years into the field of education he is still emphasizing the importance of the student experience of education rather than professional evaluation. Students excelling should be the only evaluation.

In his third year of teaching, Mr. McClung seems to have run into what most of us deal with the first week of any new job. His third reflection also discusses the grumpy co-workers that exist at every job. When I was in the Navy, I encountered this for the first time. And like McClung, I never allowed the negative comments stop me from making the most of my time in the military. I finished making rank and achieving medals for hard work and good conduct. I am quite proud of this accomplishment since so many of my peers did not obtain these accolades. McClung has given me a great reminder about the prevalence of negative attitudes and their numbing effect. There is nothing wrong with being different. Your positive attitude could be the thing that turns around an underachieving school that is in desperate need of a spark.

I really liked the “Don’t Touch The Keyboard” section. It is very important to never become a crutch for the student to lean on. But, this does not mean you should not assist a student in need. However, they must be given every possible opportunity to complete difficult tasks on their own. It is critical to their survival in a “no excuses” world.

And McClung ends this blog with great advice reminding us all to never be satisfied. This is not only good advice for fellow and future educators. In fact, it sets a great example for the students. They too should never be “comfortable” with a B average. With a little extra hard work, they may be an A student.

C4T#3

C4T#3
For this week's comments for teachers, I visited William Deyamport's peoplegogy blog. I watched his video on advice for new teachers. I found his advice interesting because of its relevance to what I have learned in EDM310. He is an 11 year veteran in the education field, and that makes his advice credible. In his video, he encourages new teachers to take advantage of the new technologies that are dictating our students' world.

Hello Mr. Deyamport, my name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I am not a teacher yet,but I hope to be one soon. The EDM310 class I am in right now is changing all the perceptions I used to have about becoming a teacher. And you touched on some of the things that have entered the education world, such as social networking, that have really caused me to rethink my approach to becoming a good teacher. After taking this class and watching videos such as yours, I totally agree with your ideas on using technology for the 21st century student's best interest.

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My Second comment for Dr. Deyamport was about his "Anti-Bucket List." Dr Deyamport developed a list of things he would never do. We often make lists of things we want to do. I think this is a great idea for remembering how to exclude the negative things we may do unintentionally. As a future educator, I especcially liked his number item on the list, never hanging on to negativity. If we expect our students to remain positive, we must always give off a positive vibe in our classroom.

Hello Dr. Deyamport,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson,and I am a student in EDM310 at the University South Alabama. Your Anti-Bucket List is awesome. I also think that 2k for a laptop is insane, and I am tired of apple people telling me to buy one. Personally, I would have that in the top five of my bucket list. Your numbers 1,2,and 6 would be my 1,2,and 3. As a teacher, I feel staying positive is a must, and is definitely worthy of a number one ranking on any list. I may develop my own "Anti-Bucket List."

Project 13 Smart Board Instruction

Project 12 Book Trailer

Project# 11 Short Movie

Blog Post # 8

This is How we Dream Parts 1 and 2
Whether in print or on the web, books are the source of the information we learn and interpret; that is a book’s goal. Unfortunately, neither one by itself overwhelmingly has the same effect on everyone. Richard Miller’s Multimedia writing gives substance to interpretation and opens the door to credible collaboration.

Simply reading a book and lecturing about it on YouTube or adding your opinion to Wikipedia is the reason many of my professors despise internet research sources. As someone who works in the humanities, I believe we need a better case for the internet jury. And that is what the multimedia concept offers.

Multimedia writing does not take anything away from a printed book; it only adds to it. It adds to the substance of the text through credible collaboration. It is filtered so as not to be stigmatized as another Wikipedia or Answers.com.

Blog Post# 12 by Carly Pugh
As I read this blog, I found myself guilty of once again being an immediate skeptic. Does learning have to be fun these days? Does everything have to be taught in the form of a video? These are the questions of someone flirting with the idea of not being willing to be creative. Thus, this same person may be robbing someone of their own creativity. I had the same feelings in the opening minutes of Dr. Miller’s lecture.

However, like Dr. Miller’s lecture, Carly’s post reminded me that ideas, such as multimedia, are not eliminating all things in the past; they simply add to their effectiveness. Coming up with an alternate ending to a famous book does not negate what the student learned by reading it. It teaches them to think even more. After all, they have to have understood something to recreate it.

The key word used in education should be creativity. Things like multimedia writing and YouTube Videos are never going to replace anything. Carly understood Dr. Miller completely. And by the end of both of their posts, they reminded me to be willing to add learning tools to my educating tool belt.

The Chipper Series and EDM310 for Dummies
After watching these two videos, I would like to see more instructional videos on the procedures for some of the projects. I believe they could be just as entertaining as these as well as helpful. I know the few videos like the one explaining how to do timelines and the one on slide shows really helped me complete the work. The instruction manual only works to a certain point. I have talked too many of the other students and former students (not lab assistants) who believe there should be more instruction beyond the manual. I think making more instructional videos available would eliminate al lot of procrastination.

Learn to Change, Change to Learn
You have to change or you want learn could have been the title of this video. I feel about this video the same way I have felt about most of the videos I have watched or posts I have read this semester. You must be willing to change has become my reaction to most of it. I think sometimes the message is a little extreme. Only a few of the posts I have seen arguing for a more electronic school have clearly admitted that web based schooling is not the only way; it is simply a way to improve the old.

C4K October

C4K#5
I started the month of October commenting on the Room 32010 class blog Kids With a View. Room 32010 is a first grade class in New Zealand. Ironically, the student I addressed had the same name as me. I told Kevin how exciting it was for us to have the same name. Also, I told him that his class blog shows a lot of hard work and dedication. I told him that New New Zealand looked like a wonderful country to visit. And if he ever visits the United States, I told him to check out the Grand Canyon.

Hello Kevin,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. Wow, we have the same name; that is pretty neat. I have enjoyed looking at your class blog. Your class seems to work very hard. I have never been to New Zealand, and from the pictures I have seen, it is a very beautiful country. It seems like a great place to visit. If you ever visit the United States, you would really enjoy some of our beautiful scenery. For example, the Grand Canyon is a huge canyon in the western part of the United States. It took thousands of years of erosion caused by the Colorado river to form this massive wonder of nature, and thousands of tourists visit it every year just to marvel at its size and beauty. Well, keep up the good work in school, and I look forward to seeing more of your class blog.

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C4K#6

Hi Victoria,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson. I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I was assigned to comment on your blog for my college class. I really like your blog. The snowflakes are pretty cool. That is a lot of pets you have. You and my wife would be great friends; she loves animals. And like you, she is also an artist with a degree from Mary Baldwin College in Virginia. I do not think you should stop drinking coffee. I have been drinking it since I was eight years old; I love it too. By looking at your blog, I can tell you work very hard. So keep up the good work.

Hi Taigan,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson. I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I was randomly assigned to you by the random student generator on your class blog. I am also new to blogging. It is a fun way to voice your opinion. From the looks of your blog you are off to a great start. I hope this comment helps you reach 400 visitors.

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C4K#7
This week I visited Mr C's. seventh grade class blog. I looked at the slide show of art projects that the students had done. As someone who struggles with drawing stick figures, I was very impressed. I told Mr. C. how much I enjoyed looking at works of art. I just wish that was a talent I had. The students did some great Egyptian drawings. They literally reminded me of the drawings from my freshman Art History book. It is good to see students of the arts in a math and science age.

Hi, My name is Kevin Hutchinson,and I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. These are some really great pictures. I especially liked the Egyptian pictures. They reminded me of the Art History class from my freshman year in college. Even though I cannot draw at all, I love to look at the work of those who can. This is great work Mr. C.

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C4K#8
This week I visited the year three class of Ms. Priscilla Lavakula in Auckland New Zealand. I commented on a post by Enyahlee. Enyahlee made an animated illustration of the Auckland Sky Tower. She gave interesting facts about the tower, and I complimented her on her creativity. I also reminded her that creative animations, such as hers, are great because their ability to make a lasting impression on the viewer.

Hello Enyahlee,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed your animated explanation of the Auckland Sky Tower. The class I am is teaching me to use movies and animation as teaching tools. Your illustration is a great example of how these techniques are useful. The animation is creative and entertaining. Thus, it leaves a great lasting impression on anyone who views it. I certainly will not forget the Auckland Sky Tower. Keep up the great work Enyahlee.

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C4K#9
For this last post, I read about the Berlin conference on Mr. McClung's class blog. The Berlin conference was about deciding how to divide Africa up among European nations. I thought it was an interesting subject. It seems to me that dividing up Africa has been the major problem throughout the continent's troubled history.

Hello,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. This is an interesting post. It seems as if the world has been cutting Africa for a long time. Maybe, if we would just let Africa be Africa, the continent may not have the many problems that it is had throughout history. I look forward reading more on this subject.

Blog Post #7

Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture
No single adjective describes how wonderful this lecture was. Randy Pausch is brave, wise, and inspirational. Through his experiences and techniques in education, he is a guiding light for any young person trying to decide the correct path in life, both professionally and as a father and spouse. And staring death straight in face with a smile and a sense of accomplishment should teach any young person a lesson. Pausch has an obvious dedication to positively impacting students worldwide

I found his “headfake” technique interesting and familiar. I am sure everyone has had the “headfake” used on them at least once. I know that my parents used it on me often. My Mother probably used it the most. She was also a teacher, and it never occurred to me, until I watched Mr. Puasch’s lecture, that she may have developed her skill through the same dedication to educating young people. As a kid, I always had a difficult time getting motivated enough to appreciate school, and My Mother would use the same technique to get me excited about learning something. For those of you old enough to remember, the “headfake” has a classic example in the 1984 movie The Karate Kid, with the famous “wax on wax off” karate lesson.

I especially liked the “brick wall” example for achievement. He says that brick walls in life are there to test our determination. There are barriers between us and success, and the name “brick wall” is a great way to remind people that personal achievement is hard, much like a brick. If every dream was achieved with ease, then, everyone would do it; thus, dreams would lose a great deal of their special significance in our lives. People would simply take more things for granted. In fact, people already take too much for granted, and that is why “brick walls” serve as a good filter for the driven and those wanting life to be a stroll through the park.

When Mr. Pausch discussed his development of the program “Building a Virtual World” at Carnegie Mellon University, I found the method in which he allowed the students to set the tone for the class very familiar. I recently did a podcast on selections from Rafe Esquith’s book There are no Shortcuts, and while Mr. Pausch was not dealing with underprivileged middle school kids, he had a similar motto for his class. He allowed them to constantly push themselves and never become complacent with the minimum. He instilled excitement, determination, and creativity into his students without force; he “headfaked” them.

This lecture taught me a lesson in determination. It was a good reminder of the basic essentials in life that we all tend to forget from time to time. And what better person to remind us than a man that is proud and still determined in his final hour? When someone uses a “headfake” on you or reminds you of the “brick walls” you will encounter in achieving lifelong goals, they are not using tricks and gimmicks to help you learn, and they are not trying to discourage you. They are usually doing these things because they care about you. Randy Pausch’s methods are more than just methods; they are gifts.

PLN Part One

This is a raw version of my PLN. As a history major, I have a couple of tiles to help with my research. I also have a tile for skype in the classroom. Sense skype is being used more and more everyday, I felt this one would very helpful. I also chose to use the twitter widget. I can access my twitter account and keep up with who I am following through my web mix.

As I said, this is a rather raw version, and I intend to get more familiar with symbaloo. I hope it will help me with things that are new to me, such as twitter and skype. I plan to use my PLN to give me a wide range of research and professional feedback.

Blog Post #6

The Networked Student
The idea of a networked student never really occurred to me until I watched this video. Ms. Drexler may be on to something here. After all, everything we do these days is so network based. Networking almost dictates every aspect of daily living in the 21st century. Whether someone is looking for friends or jobs, networking skills have become imperative, especially with the social networking craze of twitter and facebook. Teachers might do well incorporating web based networking into the classroom; it has become the most popular mode of gathering information and communicating.

However, this is very revolutionary, and I feel the networked student concept needs to done in baby steps. It will also require close observation. And it should remain experimental until there is hard scientific evidence of success. Meaning, people, namely parents, are going to want see how this has benefited a student after they have finished school before there is mass endorsement.

Furthermore, I think Ms. Drexler does a great job admitting the challenges of the concept of the networked student. As a bit of a skeptic, I always like to see someone admit they do not have all the answers. But not having all the answers does not mean this is not a good idea. The video does a good job illustrating the teacher’s role as an effective and open minded filter. As a future educator in the 21st century, I am definitely willing to give any new idea a try for the benefit of our future generations.

A 7th Grader’s Personal Learning Environment
This post was impressive. I continue to be blown away by the many virtual learning techniques available today. People are always so worried that kids are using the internet for the wrong things. This 7th grader’s PLE is proof of kids using it for the right things.

I have always been a fan of taking notes in class. I literally have to in order for me to remember what was discussed in class. This is better than taking notes. It is twenty-four hour access to the class. I especially like the student having the ability to get the opinion of an expert anywhere in the world. It teaches them to value the opinion of another. This is all new to me, but it is interesting.

Podcast Project 8

Blog post #5

Dr. Scott McLeod’s Don’t Teach Your Kids this Stuff post
Scott McLeod is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He is considered an expert on the use of technology in classrooms. This post is a satire mocking all those believing technology is more harmful than helpful. But change always has a risk. The objective should be for people to be willing to weigh the risks evenly and fairly. The internet is always going to pose a threat. However, the internet and other advances in technology are a reality in our world, and ignoring their role in our ever changing puts our kids’ futures at risk. I think the goal should be for us to decide if we are going to be technologically willing or unwilling.

I continue to hear people use the word “technologically illiterate.” This post is another attack on the “illiterate.” When recruiting people into the technological world, I think we need to use a more inviting approach. I agree with the reality of Dr. McLeod’s post. But I feel that this post is like many others that I have read; they seem to attack rather than invite. In order for any of us to have the “leg up,” we must be technologically willing.

The iSchool Initiative and Zeitgeist Young Mind's Entry
Travis Allen’s goal is to make the classroom completely electronic. The ischool Initiative wants to make school a paperless, hand held, and do it yourself atmosphere. It is a little overwhelming to think of school with no pencils paper or books. Will it really work? I am not sure. I am willing to hear more arguments for it. Also I would like to see some statistics on its effectiveness. I am willing to listen to anything that will benefit our students.
However, his argument does have some holes. He claims it will eliminate the use of “precious natural resources.” Well, electronics are not exactly green technology. We still burn a lot of coal to power our society, and it is very expensive. And if this technology is not monitored closely by educators, it has the potential of abuse. I realize that there is always a risk of kids abusing new technology. I would just like to know more about the educator’s role with this ischool; he focused mainly on the student’s role. This is very revolutionary, and while I am a bit skeptical, I am willing and anxious to hear more.

Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir
From its birth, the internet has made the world truly a “small one.” Things going on in other time zones are seconds away from us. Ericwhitacre’s choir is one the most amazing things I have ever seen or heard. It gave me chills just listening to it.
But perhaps the most chilling aspect of this performance is that none of them had ever even met in person. The internet knows no latitudes on longitudes. I like that this video shows how close we all can be to one another. Using the internet in this way is a great way to help us understand the global society we live in.

Teaching in the 21st Century
Teaching today requires an open mind. I like Kevin Roberts’s video. I feel like being a good teacher in the 21st century means you are willing. You must be willing to ask yourself the questions your students are going to have to ask to survive in their world. They are going to face many things we did not, and we must be willing to face it with them.
However, we are not obligated to answer questions in any uniform way. Not everyone is going to agree on what is good or bad, effective or ineffective. Teachers simply need to more willing than ever in the rapidly changing 21st century. Teaching in this century means separating the willing from the unwilling; if we are not willing, how can we expect students to be?

Timeline

C4T #2

I was recently fortunate enough to visit Frank Noschese's blog. Mr. Noschese is a high school physics teacher in New York. He encourages project based learning in his classroom to in order to keep his students engaged. His most recent post on his blog is about collaborative learning. He shared a post by Daryl Taylor about collaborative leaning across the world. From coast to coast, students were able to do projects with each other. They were able to be engaged with classmates they have never met. These teachers' classrooms have no walls. They are able to increase the amount of learning taking place in their classroom by the thousands. It is creativity times one-thousand, and utterly amazing.


Hello Mr. Noschese,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I am a secondary education history major, so science is usually a little foreign to me. However, these collaborative lab exercises are great. Daryl Taylor's classroom has no boundaries. Student's are able to have classmates all over the world, and that is mind blowing. The forensics "Who Done It" project looked extremely interesting. With the forensic based television shows' popularity at an all time high, I am sure this activity was an immediate hit with the students. For someone who has never been a science whiz, an activity such as this may have been helpful for me. It is a perfect example of encouraging creativity in the classroom. I will be reading an summarizing more of you post on my blog http://hutchinsonkevinedm310.blogspot.com/. I look forward to seeing more excellent examples of creative, project based learning.
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I visited Mr. Noschese's blog for the second time this week. He was featured in two interviews by MSNBC about technological learning. His interviews are an in depth look into his position on technology in the classroom. In his interview he is being asked about Khan Academy. Khan Academy is an online based lecture form of learning. Mr. Noschese is not against using technology for learning; he simply sees this as using technology as an extension of the "burp back" learning Dr. Strange has discussed with us. I told Mr. Noschese how much I appreciate him using technology not as a crutch but as an effective collaborative tool for understanding. You can check out his two interviews on his blog or buy clicking these two links: Khan Academy sparks education reform debate and Teaching with technology: What works in class

Mr. Noschese,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am a student in Dr. Strange’s EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I like your stand on technology in the second video. Dr. Strange refers to the “spitting” back information you discuss as “burp back” learning. Your use of technology for collaborative exercises are the perfect way to help students stay engaged. The technology used in your class is not a crutch; it is tool the students are able to use in order to understand the concepts discussed in class rather than memorize information for the test. As a future educator, I appreciate and admire your position and efforts in the classroom.

Blog post #4

Eagle Nest Radio & Class Blog
This podcast was well organized. Each student had a specific role. Their scripted roles helped them achieve a good flow. The smoothness of their podcast enabled them to teach a knowledgeable lesson. I was impressed that third grade students knew this much about ancient Rome. When I was their age, we were not fortunate enough to study the ancient civilizations in such depth.

However, I thought the music was a little too loud at certain times. Meaning, some of the children have different tones, and I was unable to hear some of them due to the music drowning them out. When I do my future podcasts, I will certainly consider some background music. But I will be sure that my words are not muffled by the music or any other background noises.

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom
Joe Dale’s video on classroom podcasting was interesting. The one thing highlighted that caught my attention was using it as a remedy for the sick student. When a student having a difficult time keeping up in class misses a day, the results can be devastating. That day could make or break the student’s final grade. I believe this to be the best benefit of a classroom podcast.

But I do not think that every lesson should be taught by podcast. They are great activities for keeping kids engaged. They also teach collaboration, a skill that will be helpful in their adult life. However, learning is not always going to involve fun activities. Learning has to maintain a level of seriousness. As adults, they will encounter a serious world. Bosses will not have the patience to teach them the responsibilities of a promotion through a podcast. That is why I agree with the principal at the end of the video; she referred to podcasts as an “effective tool to utilize when appropriate.” I do not think my podcasts will be the keel of all my lessons, but I will use them to help students when necessary.

The Education Podcasting Network
This site has some great examples of how to incorporate podcasts into the classroom. It has full podcasts for lectures and many other activities. I found it especially helpful because there are many different categories of podcasts. For example, a high school history teacher wanting to do a podcast for a lecture can go to secondary education podcasts. Then the teacher can select history, and a list of podcast topics will show up. And elementary or middle school teachers can do the same thing. The site helps all teachers in many instructional areas.

This site will be quite helpful to me. As a secondary education history major, I can see exactly what a podcast lecture on a history topic looks and sounds like. I like that the lecture can be viewed by the student after the go home. If the student does not catch everything in class, the information we discussed is just a few clicks away. It is especially neat that they can pause the podcast; it is not always easy to pause the teacher. That single function will make studying much easier.

Project #6 My Sentence Video

C4K

C4K#1

I recently visited the blog of a year seven student at Point England School in
Auckland, New Zealand. Henry's school has been crowned New Zealand National Champions in rugby. Henry and his classmates are very proud of their rugby team for the way they represented Point England. I congratulated Henry and his classmates on their remarkable achievement. I informed that I played baseball when I was his age and never got to enjoy such a special moment with my friends. Henry and his classmates are the first year seven students to attend Point England, and being national rugby champions is a great way for the first class to leave a legacy.

Hello Henry,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. That is really cool that your classmates are rugby champions. I am sure you are extremely proud of them. Do you play any sports at your school? When I was your age, I played baseball. However, we were never fortunate enough to win a championship. Congratulations to you and your school on a wonderful achievement. Visit my blog at http://hutchinsonkevinedm310.blogspot.com/

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C4K#2

I visited the blog of Mr. Stephen Wolfe's third grade class. His class seems to be a creative writing class. He has the kids learning to describe themselves and the world they live in through writing. I got to read the blog of bb2011, one of his students. I told bb2011 we had a lot in common. We both come from a family of four and like baseball. I really enjoyed reading about this student's pets. I encouraged him to continue to play baseball and keep up the good work in school.

Hi bb2o11,

My name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading about you. I also come from a family of four. I have an older sister. I always wanted a brother. My Dad can whistle really loud. I thought your pets were really neat. I used to catch frogs behind my house all the time. I used to play baseball too. I played left field and catcher. You should play as long as you can. Baseball is a great team sport. You are a really good writer for your age. Keep up the good work. Well, I hope you continue to have a great school year.

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C4K#3

This week I visited the St. Elmo Explorers blog. The students of St. Elmo Elementary are making great use of technology in their classroom. They have been doing book report interviews and studying the different Spanish speaking countries in the world. They used the data they gathered form that study to help sharpen their word problem solving skills. Their most recent video was their Self Portrait activity. They all drew a picture of themselves and described how they were similar and different. I thought this was a great project. They have learned a valuable lesson at a very young age; our greatest commonality is our differences.

Hello St. Elmo students,
I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class, and I loved your video. It is great that you have leaned at such a young age that the one thing we all have in common is our differences. Remembering this will be extremely helpful as you get older. You are very fortunate to have such an outstanding group of teachers. They seem to have worked very hard to create an amazing learning environment for you. I look forward to seeing more of your projects. Have a great school year.

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C4K#4

The last blog I visited this for September was the Student Blogging Challenge Supported by Eudoblogs. The student's blog I commented on is an eleven year old named Zarah. Zarah had created her own avatar. I told her how neat I thought her avatar was. I reminded her that an activity, such as creating an avatar, was important because of the creativity it requires. I informed her that creativity is a lifelong skill and will be very helpful the older she gets.

High Zarah,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am a student in Dr. Strange’s EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. That is a really cool avatar. You said that your avatar is older than you; how much older is she? I have never created an avatar, but it seems really neat. Is there a reason you made your avatar older than you? Exercises, such as creating an avatars, are good for encouraging creativity, and being creative is a great skill to have throughout your life. Keep up the good work, and stay creative.

Google Presentation

Blog post #3

Peer Editing
Paige Ellis’s information on peer editing does a great job describing the proper way to give constructive criticism. Telling someone they made mistakes can be very uncomfortable, and her slide shows and videos give wonderful examples of how to critique someone in a positive way. When critiquing a classmate’s blog, I prefer to do it publicly on their blog, and I have no problem with anyone giving me public advice. The recipient of the criticism will usually give more attention to correcting the mistake. I also agree with Paige’s idea of public advice being helpful for the rest of the class; someone that is uncomfortable critiquing their classmate can use another blog as a reference.


It’s not about the Technology
In this blog, I share the same ideas as Kelly Hines about effective use of technology in the classroom. Learning is a two-way street in which teacher and student must both travel. We are teachers and have a passion for demonstrating the importance and advantage of learning. Not all students have developed that same understanding nor do they appreciate it as we do. As educators, it is our responsibility to try as many methods as possible to help students desire traveling on the road to learning.

Furthermore, the use of technology is about the teacher and student working together and independently. We must be able to evolve in an ever changing world to help our students become independent thinkers. We cannot expect to throw a bunch of fancy gadgets into a classroom thinking that learning will magically take place. Technology must matter to both teacher and student.

Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
Karl Fisch wants to know if this blog post extreme. I believe it is quite extreme, but that seems to be his objective. It is supposed to sound extreme to the “technologically illiterate” in order to get their attention; it got my attention. Fisch is saying that the reader does not have to agree with his views, but his evidence makes it difficult disagree. Teachers need to be constantly willing to use anything that will help a student with a task. Those proud of technological illiteracy are boasting about their ability to make it through life without change. That might be true, and if they are satisfied with such an existence, they are perfectly free to live that way.

However, a student in a 21st century classroom may not be satisfied with merely surviving. They may want to be an engineer in their adult life. Such a goal requires a high degree of technological literacy. Thus, teachers cannot live in a state of satisfaction. They must be willing and eager to seek out the tools that will prepare their students for the future. We should never assume the way we were taught in high school is going to present students of the future with the best opportunities.

Gary’s Social Media Count
This counter is a wake up to anyone who does not understand the reality or impact of information and communication growth in today’s world. It sums up the magnitude of our global society. Billions of people are learning, communicating, and making money every second with the click of a mouse. The figures are almost impossible for the mind process.

We must understand that these numbers speed up the way we think and live. If we choose to ignore the reality of a rapidly changing world, we may be left behind in the time it takes for one of those numbers on the counter to change. That is the reality of our children’s future. As educators, we cannot get left behind. In doing so, we are putting our students’ futures at risk.

A Vision of Students Today
This video was a little depressing. Education seems to be a burden with uncertainty. The classroom appears to be a room with desks and students that only wish to complete the requirements hoping they will get a decent job upon completion. Finishing school does not make a person educated. Today the goal of a college student is to finish.

Universities and teachers may unknowingly encourage college as a means to an end. Educating is a gift that should be given and received. A student is not only financially better off having attended a University but also better person. A student should never feel as if a class is a waste of their time. If time is wasted, it is because the student wastes it, and they do so because of this notion that only stuff relevant to their future profession is important. If the walls of a college classroom today could talk, they would say the room is always empty.

Project 3 C4T

I posted this comment on the Keeping Kids First blog by Kelly Hines. Kelly is a fourth grade teacher in Washington, NC. She posted information about a wonderful conference tool called Rondee. It is a wonderful resource for parents, teachers, and students. Teachers and parents that find themselves unable to make it to a "web-based" conference can use Rondee to attend a conference via computer, cellular phone, or home phone. Kelly attended a conference from the sideline of her son's football game.

I feel that Rondee is a great because it has so many functions to help parent teacher communication. Also the students are able to get involved using it for things like organized study groups. Rondee is free and its multiple functions are helpful in the home and the classroom

Hi Kelly,

My name is Kevin Hutchinson, and I am in Dr. John Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I am new to blogging, but I am quickly learning the advantages of it. I am always in a rush and Rondee seems awesome. As the son of a former teacher, who was also in a constant state of rush and panic, I see how this could be helpful as both a parent and an educator. Can parents have conferences with teachers using Rondee? Also I noticed that students could set up study groups via Rondee. Have you done this with your students? And how have they responded to it?

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I recently visit visited Keeping Kids First, and I read about students using Skype to read books with other classrooms across the country. Kelly Hines had her students reading and collaborating with other students using Skype, and all the students were able to learn something from each other. Kelly's kids used a book read to them by another class to help them with their Geometry lesson. The students were engaged to the extent that they became creative and innovative. They made multiple use of their reading experience.

Reading is an important activity. Many children have no desire to pick up a book. Books can take someone to a place they never dreamed of going. Emily Dickinson said "There is no frigate like a book." Ms. Hines has taught her students the numerous ways in which books are useful. And through her "Read Across America" activity her students have learned the places a book can take them.

Hello Kelly,
My name is Kevin Hutchinson. I am in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. Using Skype for learning amazes me. It seems to be one of the best new ways to keep the students engaged. Being able to use a book read on Skype to help teach your Geometry lesson shows how engaged the students were. So many children think that reading is a waste of time. But this is a great way to keep reading alive.

Blog post #2

Did You Know 3.0

Technology in our daily lives is at an all time high. Because of our advances in technology we produce and consume more every day. In their video Did You Know 3.0 Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod use a slide show filled with statistics to demonstrate how advanced the human race is today compared to our less electronic past. Our progress is traveling at a rate no one could have ever imagined, and this video leaves you with a confused what is next feeling.

People are starving for information, and they are not willing to wait for it. The video asks what people did before Google was created. How did they learn anything? Well, they may have went to a library, and the theme of this presentation is accurate in stressing that people are not patient enough to walk to a library and browse for a book in order to entertain themselves or obtain information. I personally do not agree with the notion that one day a computer will computer will be smarter than me. While I understand that computers are useful, my existence as a human does not depend on my computer being operational; it needs me to turn the power switch on.

Mr. Winkle Wakes

Mr. Winkle Wakes, by Matthew Needleman, is an obvious reference to the famous book Rip VanWinkle. Matthew's narration in the short movie is mocks the Mr. Winkles of the world that are stuck in past. Mr. Winkle is confused by all the gadgets that were not in existence when he first went to sleep. This video is an exaggeration of how no one can function or sustain life in today's technological society. The maker of this movie even gives the impression that a teacher cannot effectively teach an interesting and knowledgeable lesson without the aid of a computer, and do not agree with him entirely on this matter.

However, computerized equipment in our world is quite useful. Advances in technology have given special needs students in today's classrooms opportunities a special needs child fifty years ago would have never dreamed of. And that alone makes being a technologically literate teacher a good thing. It is important that we make good use of the advantages we have today in order to benefit our children in every way possible.

But, it does seem little unfair to pick on people like Mr. Winkle. Sure, he needs to catch up with the times, but daily dependency on advanced technology can be equally ignorant. Fancy gadgets that make life easier should never become a crutch. A good teacher should be able to teach a lesson with or without the use of a smart board. We will not be helping our children or ourselves by sending the message of technological dependency.

The Importance of Creativity

The Importance of Creativity, by Sir Ken Robinson, is an awesome video about school killing the creativeness of our children. Robinson mentions that the arts are at the bottom of the list of importance for most school curricula. He emphasizes that kids today must focus on important subjects that will help them become successful in their adult life. Emphasis is constantly placed on math and science because a good background in either area usually leads to a more successful adult life. Meaning, these areas provide jobs that make the most money.

But not all kids are meant to live a life requiring higher math skills or a greater understanding of scientific data. These kids are sometimes, but not always, special needs children. Robinson gave an outstanding example of a little girl from the 1930s who could not seem to be still long enough to concentrate or learn much of anything. They noticed that she liked to dance to the radio and decided to allow her to focus on dancing. She attended a school for dance and has become a very successful and educated person. Robinson notes that today we would probably diagnose the child with a disorder and rely on some wonder drug to point her in the "right" direction toward a successful adult life. If this had been done to her, she would have never become the woman she was truly meant to be. As adults and teachers, we need to spend more time listening to our children, and we should focus on the the things they are good at instead of trying to "correct" them. Learning at school can be creative as well as productive and should be.

Scholastic Article

The Scholastic article is about the U.S. needing to "catch up" with the more advanced countries like Finland. We also need to develop a better "balance" in the curriculum, particularly in science and art. Ken Robinson believes it is a "myth" that some people are not creative. The interview with Ken Robinson done by Cecilia Gault discusses that everyone possesses some creativity.

In fact, I am not a math or computer genius, and I am sure anyone reading this blog will be shocked to that find out. However, like Robinson and Gault, I believe these things are important. My creativity does not lie with computers or mathematics, but it may for someone else. The guy who invented face book has a clear gift for the computer. And that is an example of Robinson's theory of intelligence being "diverse." Intelligence is just like shoes; it comes in different styles and sizes.

Harness Your Student's Digital Smarts

Harness Your Student's Digital Smarts follows highlights a classroom in rural Georgia in which teacher Vicki Davis has her students using computers to the maximum extent. Ms.Davis takes pride in her students ability to teach themselves and collaborate with each each other. They even teach her something new every day. She has achieved an environment in her classroom filled with learning. There seems to be no wasted time, and the students value the time as much or more than their teacher.

I was extremely impressed by the enthusiasm of her students. Kids being this excited about school is truly amazing. Her students are not forced to learn; they want to learn. I wish my high school computer room had looked like Ms. Davis's. Her computer lab would have been extremely beneficial to me. I encourage and applaud all teachers like Ms. Davis. Her classroom is creative as well as productive.

wordle

Blog post #1

Hello, my name is Kevin Hutchinson. I am a junior at the University of South Alabama, and my professional journey has been an interesting one. When I graduated Jackson High School in 2003, I joined the U.S. Navy because I hated the idea of four more years of school. Also, I had a desire to get as far away from home as possible. I definitely achieved that objective spending four years on a the destroyer USS Arleigh Burke. I was stationed in Norfolk, VA and saw plenty of the world from 2003 to 2007.

My time in the navy also introduced me to the love of my life. I decided to leave the navy to start a more stable life suitable for a family. And after a total of six years of being hard headed about going to college I decided to use my GI Bill to get an education. My Mother taught English for 35 years, and her passion for teaching has inspired me to become a history teacher. I work 40 hours a week on a night shift at a chemical plant and take a full load every semester. I think the navy might have been easier! However, I am glad I am here getting an education, and my goal is to use my my journey and education inspire and educate the future generations of the of young Americans.

Randy Pausch on Time Management:

Randy Pausch's take on American time management is something that everyone really knows, but they probably do not want to admit it. He is absolutely correct about us finding reasons not to do something. I really liked his idea of doing "the right thing" without worrying so much about if I have done it right or not. I am personally guilty of doing this. I will avoid a task in fear of messing it up.

Pausch's video illustrates the effectiveness of having a plan. And if you take on those tough tasks immediately, the challenge will help you learn a great deal. It is better to do something and learn from your mistakes than never get anything done and learn very little.

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