Blog Post Assignment 3

What is Peer Editing?

From the video, What is Peer Editing?, I learned the importance of peer editing. A peer is someone your own age or a classmate. Editing is the process of making comments, compliments, or corrections to writing. Peer editing is working with someone your own age to improve or edit their writing.

By listening to the video, I learned that the three steps to peer editing are compliments, suggestions, and corrections. No matter what, a editor always needs to begin their comment with a compliment. Compliments encourage the writer to continue their work, not bring them down. An editor follows his/her compliments with suggestions. The suggestions give the writer specific ideas on how to make their writing better. When making a suggestion, the editor must remember the purpose of the writer's blog post and guide the writer to better their topic or catch off topic sentences.

The final step to peer editing is the use of corrections. When an editor is reading a writer's blog post, they must remember to check punctuation, grammar, sentences, and spelling. Please do not forget to stay positive through out the whole process of peer editing. There are nice ways to correct someone else's writing, and peer editing is not meant to discourage anyone's motivation.

Peer Edit with Perfection Tutorial

The slideshow called Peer Edit with Perfection Tutorial encouraged reader's to peer edit properly because it is fun! When a student peer edits a classmates work, they are not only improving their own grammar skills but helping a classmate in their writing as well. When an editor corrects a classmate's writing they are helping the writer to improve, revise, and edit his/her work.

The three steps to peer editing are the same in the video I watched and the slideshow I viewed. I will remind again that the three steps to peer editing are compliments, suggestions, and corrections. One must always remember to stay positive, be specific, and complete all three steps when peer editing.

The beginning of your peer editing starts with a compliment. In this slideshow, I was able to see an example of writing and actually practice critiquing. I learned from this activity that even with writing that has poor grammar, there is always a compliment to be said. For example, I loved the topic that the example writer wrote about in the slideshow, so I started my practice comment by letting the writer know how much I enjoyed his/her topic.

From reading the slideshow I was also able to gather the importance of making sure my suggestions are detailed and specific. If I have a suggestion for a writer, it is in their best interest for me to give examples of how they could revise their document. Otherwise, the writer will not know why they need to correct the problem or how they can edit the situation.

As an editor it is important to be at the top of your game on making corrections for spelling errors, grammar mistakes, missing or unneeded punctuation, and incomplete or run-on sentences. This final step to peer editing is important to me because I am a future educator of the world. As a teacher, I need to know how to correct my students' work, so why not practice it now?

Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes

I absolutely loved watching Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes! If you have not seen this YouTube video before, I highly encourage you to go check it out now. It is created by elementary students who were learning the correct way to peer review in their classroom. The examples used in the video are all cute and creative!

One of the examples that I liked was "Mean Margaret" because the student who played Margaret let her acting skills shine. She showed viewers exactly how to be extremely negative which is the opposite of what peer review is all about. In peer review it is necessary to stay positive and uplifting towards the writer when critiquing their work. No one wants to hear harsh, mean comments about their writing because we all have feelings and desire to be uplifted by our classmates!

Technology in Special Education

I am so glad we were assigned to watch the video Technology in Special Education because it completely opened my eyes to a different look on technology. Before watching this video, I did not realize how influential the use of technology can be in the life of a special education student. The incorporation of computers/laptops into special education classrooms has increased the communication level between teachers and students. Many special needs students are non-verbal or they have trouble communicating accurately. However, the use of lap tops makes it easier for students "state" their opinion by typing sentences.

Not only do the teachers enjoy using technology in the classrooms, but they students love it as well! One student in the video named Chris typed on his computer, "I like using my computer because it helps me to talk." Another example of technology that is being incorporated into the classroom is an Ipod touch. Students who used to have to have aids help them with silent reading can now listen and follow along with stories uploaded to their Ipod touch.

I believe it is important to make sure that the special education students know how to use the technology equipment we use today, so they can keep adapting new inventions as they enter the real world. Before the improvements in technology there were not many jobs that disabled citizens could apply for. If all the special needs students now how to type and use a computer though, they have a better chance of continuing their education. I highly agree with the students' end closing when they said, "Technology helps us to succeed in life!"

How the iPad Works with Academics for Autism

Braden is a elementary student who struggles with Autism. His father made a video, How the iPad Works with Academics for Autism, to show the world one of the many features to an iPad. He downloaded numerous of apps for his iPad to help his son in school. While watching the video, it was easy to see how easily entertained and hooked Braden was to learning with his iPad.

On of the apps that Braden uses in the video is called "My First Words". This is a fun activity/game that helps children to practice their sight words. The word pops up on the screen and the iPad tells the child what the word is. The child then repeats the word out loud and then touches the word to move on the next one. This activity is a good hands on app that gets the fine motor skills moving in a child's brain.

After watching this video I was able to see how handy an iPad really is. It has many applications that are not on my computer. The iPad is also much easier to use for those type of applications because it has a touch screen.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
Vicki Davis is one of the many teachers that incorporates the use of blogs into her classroom. Her video called Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts showed me how useful blogging in the classroom can be. Her students blog on the "flat classroom conference" which is a blog site for students all over the world. The students are able to comment and communicate with children from other cultures.

Another idea that she had that caught my eye was the fact that she took her students on a trip to another country to see other students they had blogged with and learn about their culture. Not every school has the time and money to travel like this, but it is still a creative way to learn about other cultures through blogging. She also requires her students to have a Wiki. I loved how she stated that through her incorporation of technology she is "learning from her students". As teachers, we never quit learning.

Dora's ABCs Volume 3

After learning about the quality of the iPad I researched educational applications for the iPad through my iTunes account. The one that I found most attractive was Dora's ABCs Volume 3. Every child I have ever babysat for is in love with watching Dora, so I believe any student would enjoy this application. Most of the users also gave it a five star rating.

The application helps students to learn to read with Dora. While they are learning, they are also enjoying it because each level as a new task to help Dora conquer. At one point in the application the child gets to help Dora "get the frogs across the pond" by reading. It is a very cute and interactive way to get students involved in learning to read.