Art

Like I had mentioned in my previous post I am attempting Art 220 this year. I have taken Art every year since grade 9, and didn’t really want to give it up just yet. But I am happy to say that I completed my first project and think it turned out better than expected.

These are the two pieces that I completed for Project #1

Now I wait to see what my prof thinks of it…hopefully she likes it too!

Classes = Stressed

Well, its only a couple weeks into the semester and I am already feeling stressed and way too busy!  Trying to keep up with all my classes, and keep blogging is a struggle but I’m trying.  Also one of my classes I am trying is an Art 220, Which I am really enjoying but has been alot of work already. Right now I have been spending every free minute I have (when not in class or working) trying to complete my first project for the class. I have spent countless hours this week drawing, colouring, and shading a 12×18 drawing focusing on line. Also last night starting the second one which is also 12×18. I will busy for the next few days finishing the second one then will have some time to finally catch up on the rest of my classes especially this one!

Teaching…Evernote

Well, for my teaching section in March I chose to explore and learn about Evernote. Over the last few nights I have found some time to start exploring it. Evernote is a site that I had never heard of and I had checked out a few from the list and this one interested me the most!

Evernote is an organization type site, that you can store all sorts of things from important dates, notes, and even pictures!

So, over the last few nights I have began to fiddle around with the site. I have not learned a lot yet, but I am slowly figuring out new things. I first of all made an account, and it creates your very own notebook. You can store all sorts of things, I personally have started making a notebook about planning my 2010 summer vaction. I was able to make some notes with pictures, websites and info about different hotels, transportation, and resturants. I will continue to explore evernote and hopefully learn some more on my way…may have to check out some Tutorial YouTube video’s on Evernote.

“Snow Day”

WOW!!!

SNOW DAY and MY BIRTHDAY all on the SAME day!!!

I can not believe the amount of snow we have got in the past three days! And today they have pretty much called a snow day! First time in my 20 years that school/classes have actually got cancelled due to SNOW.

Since grade five one of my close friends moved to Texas, I was always jealous when they got “snow days” which happened a lot more because they have no idea how to drive or anything when it snows like an inch. I wonder what they would do today?!?

 But I’m stranded at home and don’t really have anything else to do then homework so I guess thats what I will be doing on this lovely SNOW DAY.  Sad thing is I’m stuck at home alone all day on my 20th birthday. Happy Birthday to me!

Hopefully somehow I can find something exciting to do!

Reflective Blogging -Sue Waters

After, watching the elluminate session with Sue Waters and scanning the information about blogging, it brought me to thinking what all blogging consists of how it really can be used in a variety of ways.

I also found it very interesting that with people like Sue we are able to learn about all sorts of things incuding technology from across the world.

I found the elluminate session to be most helful when thinking about blogging. Some of the things that really stuck with me after viewing the recording was the following:

• most importantly blogging doesn’t come naturally to all and there will always be struggles
• The only way to create a community with a blogging network is to comment and reply to those comments because alot of the learning that comes from blogs is through others comments about your post

And that you usually have to think about what to write is harder than writing the post. Personally, for me this is very true and write alot more and much easier if I am given a topic or somthing to work with. You must always remember safety and feel confident about what your writing!

How does blogging change your thinking?

For me it helps me reflect about something I have learned or done recently. Also by reading others blogs about the same topic triggers all sorts of different thinking and sometimes even learn more from others.

Something old…Something new!

Last night during the presentation by Karl Fisch, I was not sure who he was or what he was going to be talking about. After a few moments of him being on our online session Dean Mentioned that he created the Did You Know video. I then knew that the class would be full of interesting things from start to end.

I have had many profs in two years that I have been at the U of R that follow the very old ways of teaching. One specifically that hand wrote every not on the chalk board then we as students were to writ them down and every class it was exactly the same… board after board of hand written notes green chalk board yellow chalk!

For the New ways of teaching I find that there are many new ways that profs are inculding in their daily classes. Which I believe is very good, it gives us as students a bit of change everyday and differnt ways of learning. PowerPoints are very common in classes today as well as showing videos from YouTube. And even more 21st century is this class. How we can take an entire class online using different tools and sites and even have guest speakers from all over the world!

The Things that caught my interest the most of course was the video Did You know, its unbelievable some of the numbers that are included in that video he created. Also learned that there is a Canadain version that a teacher from Winnipeg created.  I also thought the google apps were very cool and I would forsure get them if I had an iPhone…But I don’t. The website called WolframAlpha that Karl talked about I had never heard about and I think its amazing! Right away I put the day I was born and it told me famous people that died and were born, the weather, and even what kind of moon it was that day! I was in total shock and am kind of suprised that I have never heard or come across this website in the past.

I also wanted to comment on YouTube in classroom which he also brought up. I think there are so many very education videos on there that students should be able to watch and I know from personal experince wanting to try and play a YouTube video for a presentation in highschool could NOT be done. As students we were all blocked from that site only teachers accounts could access YouTube. I personally don’t think this is Right!

Creating My Video

When I found out that we had to create an introduction video I was very worried! I had never actually created a video by myself always had other people to help me along the way.  So, I attempted to start. I started by adding a title page and then just played around with Windows Movie Maker.  After I figured out the basics of using the program I started adding pictures and words. Then it came to adding my voice in and was unsure of how to do this. I started looking around and found how to add my voice. I added my voice in and it came out a little fuzzy at time but I think it turned out alright!

This was much easier then I ever Imagined!

A new year, a new semester

California this past summer!

Hello ECMP 455!

I was looking back to my last blog which i wrote in the summer, reading it made me want to go back to the beautiful weather and my awesome trip to California. But that time is over and I got to get back in the role of things after the holiday mode once again. I had a very nice relaxing Christmas here in Regina.

Another semester is gone! Where has time went? I really am not sure! Though I am now half done my second year of k-5 elem. education.

But to give you a intro of myself I was born and raised here in Regina. I attended Leboldus High School. I have one younger brother, and a Siamese cat. But to learn a little more you can check out my video that I created!

And I Hope this semester goes well!

California

Like I mentioned in early posts that my family and I were planning a summer vacation to California this summer. Well it was a success.

We left at 6 am on July 28th and arrived back home late August 5t. It was a blast! Hot every day…most days where i could barely survive past noon. The last day we were there it was 36 C or about 96 F. IT was ridiculous hot we couldn’t even go to Disney so we stayed by the pool till supper time then went that night. Staying by the pool kept us cool to later on when I realized I was burnt to a crisp.

I did lots of shopping and walking. We  also had the chance to go to an Anaheim Angels baseball game! It was very cool, had never done anything like it before. It was a great experience. On top of that we walked through the gates and everyone got a free angels t-shirt. Later found out that every couple games they give away something! So now we had angels clothing to wear to the game

So the weather was good! (until we got home where it rained for the next 3 days.) Disney was fun like always! The shopping was good in my opinion (bought way to much) overall had an awesome trip and wish I could do it all over again tomorrow (except for the excessive walking and sore feet).

summer!

Well the so called summer is here. Which has not been the nicest so far, kind of disappointed. I have not posted a blog forever and thought I should continue to blogover the summer and so on. However, I have been very busy! I have been working 3-4 days a week even though its not full time it feels like alot. I have been in the process of looking for another part time job so i could get some more hours but haven’t really got any where with that. So on my time off I have been spending time with my family and friends.

In the past I have not been a big reader, but this summer something changed. I started a book and finished it in 4 days which I would say is a record for me! Last summer I started 2 books and got maybe 20 pages in and that was it. So far I have now read 2 WHOLE books and started my 3rd. The one i really enjoyed was called Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson it was a very good book but kind of weird at the same time, I would recommend it though.

This past weekend I spent at Craven! It was a blast, was really excited for the concerts this year and was kind of disappointed by Taylor Swift’s performance, she was very quiet and I had difficulties hearing her. George Strait on the other hand was AMAZING! It was way better this year, not so muddy, there were a few muddy spots but you could avoid them. And the news of Kenny Chesney coming was even more exciting so I can’t wait for next year.

Now I wait for hot summer weather to arrive and stay! And soon get to start getting ready for my California trip which is getting closer and closer and I can hardly wait.

Hope everyone else’s summer is going well!