For Classroom Applications of Technology

     I believe that the usage of Wiki pages may be great for when I teach 9-12 History. For example, when covering the impacts of the institution of slavery, my students can create a Wiki page. The students can create their own page with all the information they feel is relevant to the topic. Relevant materials would include legislation, dates, people and maybe some rebellions. The students could share links to primary sources with a quote from these first hand accounts. Behind the page, the students can use the discussion boards for communication and sharing links and ideas they feel is important. Here they can argue their ideas based upon the evidence they have discovered. This evidence-based arguing is perhaps the most important skill that they will take away form my history class. This is a skill that is applicable to their daily life. I also like that as a teacher I can monitor which students are actively participating in the assignment. The Wiki page would be an active collaboration between the entire class. This assignment would further develop social and teamwork skills. I hope to one day incorporate a Wiki page in my curriculum and pray that it allows for the students to actively learn. 

Are you my Daddy?!

I had the funniest thing happen to me while leaving the high school I am conducting my observations at. I noticed a clean cut Latino kid stop, whip out his ear bud, eyes grow big, and with all seriousness look me in the eye and ask, "Poppy? Daddy? Are you my Dad?!" Shocked and with a nervous quake in my voice, I quickly denied such allegations! We immediately began laughing and I really questioned my past relationships for a split second ;).

My first post.

This blog is being started for my Classroom Applications of Technology course. I am pretty excited about this. I usually write in a journal because it's a lot faster for me to hand write something rather type it. Hopefully, I can improve my typing skills and speed.

My buddy Keith came up with the name "Combat to Classroom" while sitting here in the Veteran's Lounge at TLU. I chose this title because I hope to highlight my struggles and accomplishments as a veteran, a father, a student, and eventually one day as a teacher. I know that writing is a form of therapy that I should be using since I haven't talked to anybody in the VA for in what seems like forever. Between physical exercise and writing I hope to maintain a healthy state of mind.

OK, please feel free to ask me questions on anything! I hope to write more about everyday life and the things I am learning in school. I will eventually share some of my experiences in combat.