Monday, February 20, 2012

Statistical Analysis

I have to be completely honest here. I am not a mathematical person, nor have I ever been. When I looked at the web-sites I felt like I was taking Greek. I tried to just focus on what they do and the function of the web-sites. My favorite was the statistics 101. I felt that it was most set up for mathematical challenged me. the reason I did my survey through Monkey survey is that it will do the statistical analysis for me.

On-line Survey Tools

I was blown away by the different surveys that you can do. I was always impressed with people who created surveys at our school, but now I understand how easy it can be. The two I really liked were e-survey pro and monkey survey. They were the easiest to navigate for me. I used the monkey survey to create my survey for the assignment. What I like is that it does the statistical analysis for me. It saved so much time. I walked away feeling like I learned a new skill.

Pros/Cons of Professional Portfolio

While taking this class I have learned a lot about the professional portfolio, and while my husband is job searching it has helped, to learn, of how these different web sites help people looking for jobs. I have always gotten my jobs by word of mouth. What I mean is that people know I would be a good fit for the position. I think these web sites help companies or schools know who you are and your qualifications. My favorite is the Linkedin. I like how people can write a recommendation for you. All the recommendations I have in the past are on letter head from the school.While, I love these sites, my one struggle with them is I feel like we have lost the idea of knowing who someone really is. I could be the most qualified for the job, but that does not mean I am the right person. I like the interview process, as my future employer, can learn about who I really am. I had an interview last summer and I knew I was not the right person for the job, but I only knew that by going through the interview process. At the same time, the school was able to say we like you please keep applying.
I guess I am rambling, but what I am trying to say is there are pros and cons with anything. While I think these sites are great, I wonder if we lose some of the personally touches by using them.

Monday, January 30, 2012

SPARK 3-6 Physical Education Equipment Video - FITNESS CIRCUITS



One of my favorite fitness circuits for class.

Google docs

We use Google docs and Google calendar at school. I like the calendar because it sends me reminders of meetings or appointments that I have. I can also share my calendar with others and vice-verse. The appointments I do not want to share I can hide. As a staff, we have created and edited documents using Google docs. The best part about it for me, it's easy to figure out. The other part I like, we had to pay to upgrade Microsoft 2011, with this you don’t have to pay.

Monday, January 23, 2012

While on this journey of going back to school I was so afraid to take this class, as I do not feel like I am great at technology. I was thinking about it today and realized everything I have learned thus far, and will continue to learn. I know how to blog now. I have a twitter account, but the truth be told I enjoy blogging better. I love the podcast. This will be an excellent tool for me in my field. I can post pod casts on my web page at school.
The other part of this class I have enjoyed is learning how to upload picture. One of my goals is to take more pictures and videos of what I teach, so I can upload to my website and the parents have accesses to see what's going on in p.e. I am so excited about all these new tools and how I can use them.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Christmas in The Park 2011

This is a picture of my husband and I at Christmas in the park. We go there every year. It's downtown San Jose.
This project was super exciting for me. I have said it before, but I am not super high teach person, but I did most of this one on my own. I only had to ask my husband what one thing meant. I have always wanted to be able to put pictures in an album, so now I can start.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Thoughts on microblogging

This is my second post for an assignment. I have learned so much from this class in just a week. While I am by no means, a technology person, I have been able to learn some new terminology and things about the computer I never Knew. I never had a blog post before this week, or a twitter account. I know  what both are and how to get into my accounts....this is huge for me! While I never saw myself as a "tweeting" kind of gal, I do see how people can use it for their good. I think my resistance to it, is the hour to hour stuff people tweet about, but I never thought of it as a tool for a town who may be experiencing a crisis, or even when the earthquake struck Japan and the tsunami after. The twitter or microblogging would be helpful in that. I know I like face book, it's helped keep me up to date with friends and family.  The other reason I like face book is that you can write a lot on your page or someone else. I like to write, so I have enjoyed my blog, but I will have to work through the whole"tweeting" thing. I am trying to keep an open mind through this whole class and see how much technology can help me in the educational field. I just am not there yet with the microblogging.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Reaction to the use of blog as learning in the higher education

One of the assignments we had this week was to read the article, "Exploring the use of blogs as learning spaces in the higher education sector." While learning the history of blogging, and when it all started it was cool to see that it can be used in the educational setting. I think for me what stuck out is that it is a way people can communicate to each other, while taking the same class. To be able to read someones thoughts and point out another areas of the subject studied, can make you see another point of view. According, to the studies blogging has helped many educational institutions. The idea I like is that I am not as much of a writer, so I may sit back and read but not necessarily react. The studies showed it even helped students like me. I have been told I am a good brainstorming but not great writer. At the very end of the article it states" Students' have long learned as much from each other as they have from an instructor or textbook". I would agree with that statement. We all bring different ideas and thoughts to the class. I am looking forward to learning to blog.


First Week of Grad School

This week was my first week of grad school. It has been a very tough week for me as I try to get a schedule going. I think it is interesting that when you pray about things before moving forward God has a way of reminding you that you are where He wants you to be. I have been fighting with myself about the idea of being smart enough to do grad school. I was told I would never amount to much due to my dyslexia. I have had to tell myself many times "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength!" My other struggle has been asking my husband for help. My devotion this morning talked about how the most successful people in the world did not do it alone. I took that as God's way of telling me I am in the right place and not to feel bad about asking for help. My goal now is to continue to ask when I need help. That's a big challenge for me.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

I have been teaching fitness classes at the  school where I teach to our teachers. It has been a very rewarding and yet fascinating process to watch. I have many teachers who have never exercised in their life. After watching a while, I wonder if they were ever taught to use their bodies correctly? It got me  to thinking about how I am teaching my little guys to move. I think it is so important to teach them from the start, how to move their bodies, and why it is important to move their bodies.