Podcast

I listened to six different audio podcast today :

SmartBoard Lessons Podcast
KidCast
ConnectLearning - David Warlick
EdTechtalk
MacBreak Weekly
This Week in Photography

I found that many of these podcast were similar in their introduction. They started with music and introduced themselves. Several of them gave us their location and the date. Some of the podcasts audio were clearer than others, and some you could barely hear them through the static. One of the ladies had to turn her volume up so the audience could hear and that made a big difference. MacBreak Weekly sounded like they were radio hosts, and one had been a D.J. before. Some had voices that were more pleasing to listen to than others.

Most of the podcast started their episodes by talking about personal events, then they progressed into the topic of the day. Some topics were more intriguing to me than others. I enjoyed listening to Ben and Joan from the Smartboard podcast, they kept me interested in their conversation with each other and the topic of the day, interacting math movies in the classroom. Kidcast with Dan Schmit was the most helpful podcast in that he gave the most insight in when to use audio podcast or video podcast. He was easy to listen to and explained the information very well to the audience.

I also enjoyed the format that David Warlick use in his ConnectLearning podcast, he involved his workshop by asking them questions and them responding immediately on the podcast. I found it enlightening to think of children as being fearless about technology because they live in a technology world. It is the adults that are scared of change. Technology is normal to our young children, and I agree it gives them the ability to be creative in their work and makes them more responsible for their work when they know their peers will be viewing their work as well.

I did not enjoy listening to EdTechTalk. The audio was not working right in the beginning and they didn't seem to have their stuff together. I felt they needed to do more research on their topics and how to do a podcast. They were very boring and I couldn't wait until the 10 minutes were up! MacBreak Weekly had very nice music and voices, they easy to listen conversation with each other and the audience. They sounded professional. This Week in Photography had people from all over the country talking with each other in the podcast, I found this interesting. The topic however would only be of interest to someone in the photography field.


Overall I found listening to the podcasts helpful for my future podcast adventure!

Media Rich

Michael Jackson

(CNN) -- The Los Angeles coroner has concluded preliminarily that singer Michael Jackson died of an overdose of propofol, a powerful sedative he was given to help him sleep, according to court documents released Monday.

Los Angeles coroner Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran reached that preliminary conclusion after reviewing toxicology results carried out on Jackson's blood, according to a search warrant and affidavit unsealed in Houston, Texas.

The affidavit, used to outline probable cause for search warrants of the offices of doctors who are believed to have treated Jackson, disclosed many details of drugs given to Jackson in the weeks before his death.

Jackson family lawyer Londell McMillan said the report "reaffirms the very sad reality that there was a tragic and gross violation of duty and care for Michael Jackson."

The publicist for Jackson's family said the "family looks forward to the day that justice can be served."

"The Jackson family has full confidence in the legal process, and commends the ongoing efforts of the L.A. County Coroner, the L.A. District Attorney and the L.A. Police Department," the statement said.

The Associated Press is quoting a single law enforcement official, who said the L.A. County Coroner ruled Michael Jackson's death a homicide. The Los Angeles County Coroner's office told CNN they had "no comment" on the report. An LAPD spokesman said the story did not come from their department.

"We will not comment on the "anonymous" law enforcement source that claims that Michael Jackson's death will be ruled a homicide," Murray's lawyer Ed Chernoff said in a statement on his firm's Web site. "Most of the reports by "anonymous" sources have been proven wrong. We will be happy to address the Coroner's report when it is officially released."

The 32-page warrant said Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician, told a detective that he had been treating Jackson for insomnia for six weeks. Murray said each night he gave Jackson 50 mg of propofol, also known as Diprivan, diluted with the anesthetic lidocaine via an intravenous drip.
. Watch what court documents show about Jackson's last hours »

Worried that Jackson may have been becoming addicted to the drug, the Houston cardiologist said he attempted to wean him from it, putting together combinations of other drugs that succeeded in helping Jackson sleep during the two nights prior to his death.

On June 22 Murray said he gave Jackson a cocktail of drugs similar to what he gave him on the day he died, June 25 -- propofol, Ativan and Versed, which helped the star fall asleep, according to the documents. On June 23 he gave Jackson only the Ativan and Versed, which helped him sleep.

But on June 25, other drugs failed to do the job, as Murray recounted to detectives in an hour-by-hour account detailed by detective Orlando Martinez of the Los Angeles Police Department:

Next Generation Learning

I thought it was amazing how much technology was incorporated in the boy's school. I never would have thought so many young children could do so much with technology. I guess I don't give their young brains enough credit to learn it. Although my daughter is 5 years old and knows how to play games on the computer and Wii. She talks about using the smart board in school as a reward, she gets excited when it's her turn.

I like the thought of using more technology in the classroom to keep our children current on new technology. At the same time I like to make sure that there is a balance between technology and regular play. I think it is just as important to interact with others verbally and not get lost in the technolgy. Technology can be so helpful, but I find it can be addicting which takes away from quality time with family and friends.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

I feel Vicki Davis has a good grasp of what to expect from students working with technology. I think it is important for the students to work together using their strengths to accomplish the task given. I like that she doesn't expect herself or the students to know everything, they learn together.

The fact that her students are able to collaborate with others around the world is amazing to me. It's great that her students are able to see and experience other cultures from their computers. I wonder how many of our local schools do these types of projects.

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

I really enjoyed hearing what Sir Ken Robinson had to say on the importance of creativity. I agree all the way with what he said about finding what the children are interested in and are good at and let them flourish in that area. If the child finds what they are passionate about they will succeed and enjoy their life's work. If you enjoy what you do it is worth putting your time, effort, and hard work into it.

I feel that it is so true, that we all start out with creativity when we are born and gradually lose it with age. I do think children take chances and are alright with being wrong, and as educators we should not allow them to feel ashamed. I have always felt that we should encourage children to use creativity and not shame them for being different. I lose track sometimes of this and am refocused now on allowing my own children and preschoolers to explore their creativity.

Did you know?

The biggest problem I had with this video is that I had a hard time focusing on the message from the constant motion and sound. This made me think that this is how a young child might feel if given too many commands at once. It really made me think about how many things tell my own children and my preschoolers to do at one time. Even though this video was not intended to teach this message, this is a valuable lesson to me.

The second time watching this video, it was much easier to focus on the facts presented. I was astonished that China was soon to be the number one English speaking country. Other countries seem to be way more advanced in their education than ours. I am not sure if that is good or bad. It can be a little scary to see how much information the computer will have in years to come. They will be smarter than the people that creating the programs. I see now how beneficial this class will be in keeping me updated with how quickly the technology world is changing.

About Me!

I am Tosha Thomas, I have lived in Foley, Alabama all my life. I have been married to my wonderful husband for 7 years. We have a 5 year old daughter that just started kindergarten and a 2 1/2 year old son that gets into everything. Our family is very involved in many areas at our church. I enjoy seeing unusual art in any form!

I graduated from South Alabama almost 5 years ago with my Bachelors in Elementary Education K-6. Since then I have taught 2nd grade at a Christian School and kindergarten in a public school. I was a stay at home mom for a few years, and now I teach a lively 3 year old class at my church preschool! I am taking EDM 310 to keep my certification from expiring this next year! Once my children are all in school I plan to come back to teaching, specifically 6th grade Mathematics.