Mr. Dancealot
In the video Mr. Dancealot, it shows a college classroom where the instructor is teaching dance. What is different about this class is that the instructor uses power-point to teach his students. On top of that, when he does physically teach the class, he demonstrates the dance moves behind his desk where his students can not visibly see his feet. Then when the time comes for the students to take their final exam, they have no idea how to correctly do the dance moves in order to pass. The message that this video is trying to get across is that students learn best when the teacher is interactive with them, and helps them to understand the material in a way that is easy for them to remember. I personally feel that teachers being interactive with their students is very important. I have been at the University of South Alabama for almost 2 years and I have observed that a bunch of my teachers have been very interactive and have definitely helped me understand the material better then I would have if they hadn't.
Teaching in the 21st Century
Kevin Roberts seeks to explain in his video Teaching in the 21st century, that in today's society it is very different to teach students because of technology. Anybody can easily look anything up on Youtube, Facebook, Google, etc.. The point that Roberts is trying to get across is that we should be engaging students not entertaining them because it is only when you engage them that they truly start to learn. I agree with Roberts because I can just look around me in many of my classes and see how students are so wrapped up in technology and not paying even the slightest bit of attention to the teacher and are therefore losing that interaction between them and the teacher. Watching this video and seeing Robert's opinion affects me as a future educator in that when I do become a teacher, I will try my hardest to engage the students instead of just trying to entertain them because in today's age of technology, there are many ways for them to be entertained.
The Networked Student
Why does the networked student even need a teacher? In the video the student was learning by using the internet as a resource and at the same time was essentially learning from others online. So in that case why is a teacher even necessary? A teacher is the one who shows the student the best and most reliable resources to use as well as to encourage that students learning and creativity.
Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
Vicki Davis, a teacher in south Georgia is demonstrating a unique way of teaching her students. She uses technology and new software as a means of getting her students to learn. She also encourages self learning in that if they do not know what a word means then they should look it up. Vicki also lets her students teach the class as well. Davis' main goal is to not only teach her students but to also have them be able to teach themselves by doing assignments where they have to put their mind to work. My reaction to her teaching style is that it is a very different yet unique way of teaching and it really helps students to understand that a teacher doesn't have to be the only person who can teach you, but that you can even teach yourself.
Flipping the Classroom
After watching the video Flipping the Classroom, I was intrigued by this new method of learning. This was my first time hearing about flipping the classroom but I honestly think it will be a good thing. I feel that it makes it easier if the student comes in the next day at least understanding what they will be learning for the day so that it hopefully will not be as big of a struggle. It would also be beneficial to the teacher in that all of their students would be on the same track
