Google Documents

A resume is an important document, especially for a person like me that is fresh out of college and on the job search.  I am thankful that EDUC 6305 made me take this opportunity to edit and update my resume.  I uploaded my resume on Google Documents, which is user friendly!  Another reason I enjoy Google Docs is because it is free of charge and my items are downloaded to the web, not just my computer.  Click here to take a peak at my resume!  I would love feedback to see if I am on the correct track with it!  I also look forward to adding some more items to my resume after I learn many new skills from this class!  

This activity also relates to the ISTE NETS T standard 3 because a teacher can utilize Google Documents, digital age media, to communicate to others.

How Millennial Are You?

What is my millennial profile?  After taking the How Millennial Are You quiz, I found that on a scale from 0 to 100, my score was only 41%.  I knew I wouldn’t be 100% millennial, but I did think I would be more so than what I scored.  Maybe I should have been born in a previous generation since I did not even get close to the required score of 73%.  Someone who is classified as a millennial is born after 1981 and is confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and open to change.  While I was at school today, I had an older teacher take the quiz.  She scored a 21% and was not surprised about her profile.

I suppose I have some work to do, especially in the technology area!  Overall, I would classify myself as a teacher that tries to incorporate technology into my teaching.  However, in this day and age a teacher that “tries” is not up to par.  Since technology is growing every day and students love it, I have challenged myself to not just try but “do” more technology integrated teaching and learning with my students for the next school year.  I honestly feel that this class will prepare me to reach my goal.

In terms of the Frand’s 10 characteristics of the information-age mind set, here is where I am.

1.       Computers aren't technology - I would have to disagree with this statement.  I do agree that computers are technology.  Look at all the wonderful things a computer does.  If it weren’t for computers, we would not be able to access a lot of the technology in this world today.

2.       Internet Better than TV - This is a tossup for me!  I enjoy my television shows.  However, I also enjoy all of the social media I can get access to on the internet.   The reason I am going to have to choose the internet is because if I miss a show and forget to DVR, I can go to the internet to read and watch the show I missed out on.

3.       Reality no longer real - Agreed.  Due to all of the reality TV shows, magazine covers, internet, etc, I feel that reality is not real anymore.  So much seems/is staged that it pushes me away.  I am a firm believer to be yourself and live your life how you want to, not how others are doing.

4.       Doing Rather than knowing - I am a person that needs to know what I am doing before I can successfully do something.  I guess that goes hand in hand with my personality of being a perfectionist!  I would never get out and plant a garden without having a clue what I was doing.  I would hate for all my hard work, money, and time to go down the drain if nothing grew.

5.      Nintendo Over Logic - I disagree with the nintendo over logic thinking.  I think it is important to stop and think about directions and consequences before making an action.

6.       Multitasking Way of Life - I absolutely agree with this point.  In this era, there are so many things going on that you would get so behind without multitasking.  Right now while I am completing this assignment I have eaten dinner, talked on the phone twice, checked Facebook, and my email.

7.      Typing rather than handwriting - I couldn’t agree with this statement more!  Typing is faster and neater.  I can honestly not remember the last time I hand-wrote a paper.  I like the added bonuses of typing such as spell check, quickly getting synonyms, cut, paste, delete, and so on.

8.      Staying connected - Staying in touch is something that is a wonderful.  I like how we can stay in touch with the world through the internet, telephones, and even the media.  I am connected with many of my friends and family, and even my 80 year old grandpa, through social media sites.  Even though I don’t post much, I enjoy reading about what others are doing.  Although I like to stay connected, I am not always able to because the lack of cell phone service at my house.  I believe that is the only downfall of living out in the country.  Don’t call my cell in the evenings or at night; good old landlines!  haha

9.      Zero Tolerance for Delays - Well, what kind of delays are we talking about?  If it is a snow delay at school than I have all of the tolerance in the world - sleeping in!   However, if it is a delay in dinner, homework, or transportation then count me in on the zero tolerance.  My patience is one of the things that slightly lacks about myself.

10.   Consumer/Creator Blurring – Why reinvent the wheel that has already been created?  I am not saying to find a paper on the internet, download it, change the names, and turn it in.  However, borrow but give credit.

Thank goodness that I actually found that I agree with most of these characteristics.  I was worried after taking the millennial quiz that I would fail both.  I think it is important for teachers especially to keep up with the information age mind set. 

These activities relate to the ISTE NETS T standard 3 because they allow teachers to be knowledgeable on what skills they know and need to know for a global and digital society.  Teachers can evaluate and then learn to exhibit the abilities needed.

Frand, J.L (2000). The information-age mindset: Changes in students and implications for higher education. EDUCAUSE Review, 15-24. Retrieved from http://net.educasue.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERM0051.html

Pew Research Center. (2013). How millennial are you? Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/quiz/how-millennial-are-you/

Social Media

Social media at times can easily take over our lives.  I know because I am guilty.  I hope I can balance working, school, family, and social media networks like Facebook, Pinterest, and the two required for this assignment.  Well today is the day that I broke a promise to myself.  I always said I would never get a Twitter account.  Since I bit the bullet, you all can follow me @Akelleysweet.   I also set up my Google+ profile for this class.  I still need to do some playing around with these sites to get the hang of them. But I am keeping an open mind! I actually learned that these new social media sources aren't that scary after all.  I installed the Google+ hangout plugin and practiced video chatting with my sister-in-law last night.  I tried a few times to connect with Dr. Pierce tonight.  I think I left a video message introducing myself? Haha...Hopefully!

With social media on the rise, I feel it is very important to not bash it at school.  Schools seem infamous for no cell phones, no electronics, no social media sites!  However, I will be daring this fall and get students involved in some of these sites because I think it could be a great teaching tool and way to keep in touch on a professional level in and outside of school.  Plus, students will love it!  I could use social media for discussions, homework questions, etc.  I also feel it is important to remember there is a fine line to follow when it comes to student-teacher association on social media sites.

These social media activities relate to the ISTE NETS T standard 1 because they allow for teachers to not only have face-to-face time in schools with students, but also communication in the virtual world.  These sites allow students to creatively reflect and learn about topics through technology.  There are also other standards that social media could fall under, but I feel standard 1 relates the most.

SoMe Survey

Social Media… what a hot topic!  Some people criticize it and others love it.  It is everywhere nowadays.  The SoMe Survey was interesting to complete.  At times, I felt embarrassed to answer how much I use social media daily. 

Facebook and Pinterest are my weaknesses.  I enjoy keeping in touch with family and friends, creating, sharing, and exchanging information to others on these sites.  Due to my extensive use of these to networks, I have tried to steer clear of other social media such as Twitter just so they don’t consume my life.  Nevertheless, I look forward to learning how to use social media more often in my professional life and not just for personal use.  Does anybody know if creating a Google form is difficult like the one Dr. Pierce created for the SoMe Survey?  I think that would be a great activity to complete with my students at the beginning of the year and throughout.

This is me

Hello Education 6305! My name is Amanda Sweet.  Dr. Pierce you might remember me as Amanda Kelley from instructional technology a few years back; I recently got married. I graduated from FSU in the spring of 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education.  I started my masters last summer in Multi Categorical Special Education.  However, after getting experience in Title I, I realized that reading is where I want to get my masters.  Since I changed my major, I won’t finish my degree until the fall of 2014 or spring of 2015. 

When it comes to technology I am not a guru, but I am also not completely illiterate. I look forward to learning many new technology resources that I can use in my classroom next school year.  One thing I hope to take away from this class is confidence when it comes to technology.  I am slightly nervous about this course because I just ordered a new computer, a Mac, because my Dell crashed.  I literally do not know a thing about Apple computers.  I hope I can survive this class with an unfamiliar computer!  This is probably the perfect time to make me learn! haha

One unique thing about me is that there are many teachers in my family.  There are 10 educators in my family which include my mom, aunts, cousins, and my sister.  I also am going to be a first time aunt to a little nephew, Easton, any day!

Find me on Facebook - Amanda Kelley Sweet.