Blog Post #10

What can we learn from Mrs. Cassidy?

Mrs. Kathy Cassidy is a first grade teacher.  From the looks of her videos, she loves what she does and that is teaching and letting the kids use technology to learn.  In her first video, Little Kids...Big Potential, she shows how she lets the children use technology by using blogs, Skype, Nintendo DS, wikis, videos, and classroom webpages to discuss things and learn in their classroom.  The children are having a blast with using every single one of these items.

In the first interview with Mrs. Kathy Cassidy Part 1, she talks about how she is involved with technology and how long she's been doing it.  Mrs. Cassidy has been involved in technology for about 10 years now because they were given 5 computers in their classroom.  They were called Sun Ray computers (a Microsoft Brand), they had monitors, keyboards, and internet access, but you couldn't put any programs on them.  She's had a blog for about 5 years and a video for about 2 years now, she's always adding new things.  Mrs. Cassidy has a form that she sends home for the parents, saying that the blogs will protect their child's identity.  Parents really like it because they get a chance to see what their child is doing.  Mrs. Cassidy even have a portfolio for each child, so they can keep all of their work together.  The kids love it, she says the kids and technology goes hand and hand.

In the second interview with Mrs. Kathy Cassidy Part 2, she talks about how she don't really use social media in her personal life.  She thinks you should use social media for what you are interested in.  If you like to write, you should use a blog and if you like videos, you should get YouTube.  Everyone has something that they are interested in.  Dr. Strange talked about how he first started using Twitter and how it has changed his life.  Teachers, as well as students can use this to communicate with one another.

In the third interview with Mrs. Kathy Casidy Part 3, Dr. Strange gave his students a chance to ask Mrs. Cassidy some questions they may have.  One question was how often does she let her kids blog?  Her answer was at least once a week, but it depends on the year because some of the kids would blog, readings, and other things.  She states, blogs are not meant for cheating, but they are a way to communicate.  Mrs. Cassidy teaches her students not to use their last name, be positive to others and don't be mean, don't use pictures with themselves.  She said it's all about education and teaching them what to do.

Mrs. Cassidy did a great job in her interviews.  I know the kids in her class love her, she makes teaching so much fun just by using the technology.  When I start teaching, I am going to take some of what she mentioned to use.  Its okay to let the kids work, but to get them interested at least let them have a little fun while learning.