"Finding you passion changes EVERYTHING"

I completely agree with Sir Robinsons' statement that to be naturally good at something is not enough. You have to love it. He said when you find your passion you will never work again. I believe that happiness cannot be bought. Happiness comes from within. If you are not happy with your career, then it will reflect on the rest of your life. People cannot go through life trying to please everyone else when they are not happy themselves. I agree with what he says about it affecting the rest of our communities when we do not love what we do. Talent is buried deep within is another argument I agree with. Most people never use their true talents or discover them. Kids are steered away from doing things that they want to do because they are told that they will never have a successful career in it. Life is what you make of it, and we only get one so don't be unhappy the whole time you are living yours.

Twitter

I first heard about twitter on the radio, but was never curious enough to look it up on the computer. I have a facebook and a myspace and I feel that they are more useful than twitter. I haven't been able to grow to love twitter. I do have an account and check it on a daily basis for class, but probably won't use it much beyond this class. To me twitter is just a bunch of status updates. I won't be using twitter in my classroom. I feel I would get more use out of facebook, and it has the same features as twitter and more.

Podcasts

After listening to my groups podcast and three other groups as well. I have general suggestions. While listening I noticed that there were a lot of pauses and downtime. This could have been prevented by doing more research and knowing what you wanted to say before you started recording. Another thing I noticed was some of the podcasts were too rehearsed. My group did not get together and rehearse for that very reason. We wanted it to be more like a conversation than a scrip being read.

Some groups had a problem with just one person talking more than the rest of the group. This was a group project and should have been divided equally. The only other suggestion I have is to speak up. It was hard to hear some people talking at times. Overall, the content of the podcasts were wonderful. The spokesperson in the group seemed to have their facts together.

Blogs in the classroom

I believe there are pros and cons to blogs in the classroom. I think if I did something with blogs in my classroom, I would want as much as possible to be completed in class. Not every one of my students may have the internet or even a computer at home. I would love to use blogs as a way for my students to express themselves and learn how to use the computer for more than just games and playing.
Before taking the class, I did not know a lot about blogging. I had no idea it could be used a tool in my classroom. Whether we realize it or not, technology is being used more and more everyday in every aspect of life. If we as teachers do not start getting our students on board with it, then who will?

"Growth" vs. "Fixed" Minds

In this particular video podcast, Carol Dweck developed a workshop for students, where they we placed into two different groups for eight sessions. One of the groups learned study skills.The other group learned study skills and a growth mindset. The students that were placed in the study skills group grades declined because they had no motivation. On the other hand, the group that was taught the study skills and the growth mindset showed improvement in their grades. The growth mindset sessions included teaching the students that their brain develops everyday and were taught how to apply it to their school work.

In my future teaching, I want to teach my students that they learn something new everyday that can be applied to their school work and everyday life. I believe in a growth mindset because the more you grow the more you learn. Just having study skills isn't enough.