Carolyn+F

Day 1 Morning

What are your feelings about video games in general? I, personally, still live in the 80's and play Frogger, Pacman, and Centipedes! I don't even know how to turn on the Play Station or whatever it is we have now! My husband and kids love video games and I know that kids are very interested in games. I think that kids and husbands spend way too much time gaming. They should be reading or playing and exploring outside instead. Basically, games are motivating and we gotta do what we gotta do!

What are your feelings about video games as learning tools? Kids are motivated by games, so let's use them as a learning tool. I may not be the most interested person myself in gaming, but I am interested in kids learning! I can go with the flow and learn to create games. Lord knows, I've purchased plenty of learning games for my speech-language program and I know that kids love them and I have seen success. It will be great to be able to create a game that is specific to a topic and ability level of kids.

Day 1 lunchtime

What brings you here/Why are you here? The idea of creating games to access the curriculum is cool, but I can honestly say that I probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for the stipend and the laptop.

What are you excited about? I'm excited about seeing kids learn from this media. I really think that I can work closely with my Exceptional Education staff and create games to unlock our kids minds. Our EC kids need so many different forms of teaching in order to learn and retain information and gaming could be an awesome tool for us to use.

What are you concerned about? I concerrned that we will be given so much info this week that I'll forget it all and won't be able to move forward! BUT, I'm not concerned about getting support from the folks at NCSU (go Pack!) and my tech folks from Lee County. I'm also concerned about getting the support from my EC staff and getting ideas from them to use. I'll handle that part!

Day 1 end of the day shutdown/power off

My head is full and I know that we've just gotten started! Still waiting for my download to complete, approx 22% now. Games sound interesting, still thinking of my storyline. I've got so many ideas. I need to narrow them down. Wondering how to get the concept into the game. Really wanting to see another example. Still excited and patient.

Day 2 morning How do you use technology in your classroom? As a speech-language pathologist, I use various programs for reading, memory, writing, etc. Earobics is one of my favorites, as well as Thinking Things 1,2,3, Fripple Town. I have other CDs that I use for reasoning activities. I have just learned podcasting, so I will be using that as a tool with my fluency, articulation, and language kids. We use the internet for various activities, from games to practice language skills, specific speech-language sites, and searching for topics either related to the kid's disorder or a classroom topic. I will be using Wikispaces and blogs next year with my kids. I, personally, use technology for word processing, Medicaid billing for services, internet searching, etc.

Day 2 lunch How does the technology you currently use enhance your students' learning and your teaching? How do you know? I work with language impaired kids and autistic kids. Technology is a tool for them to develop memory skills, literacy skills, etc. I don't use technology as much as I would like to. I see results in their study skills and reading skills and social/pragmatic skills. These skills last throughout their school years and further. My school psychologist has commented that she can tell the kids that I work with because they tend to have a strength in the memory and reasoning areas on the IQ test.

Shutdown/Power off I feel better about manipulating the game and objects. Lots of info, but I feel better. Starting to get the storyline idea in my head. Kim's presentation helped bunches! NCState folks are great to work with. I hope I can remember this info in a few weeks. Can't wait to get my own laptop, so I can work independently.

Day 3 morning Describe your teaching I am unique to this group of teachers in that I am a speech-language pathologist and see a variety of kids, including language impaired, articulation, fluency, voice, autism, down syndrome with no speech, etc. My kids range in intelligence from "trainable" to "gifted." As I teach these kids, I use a vast array of methods, including drill, pantomine and role play, hands on, computer programs, inclusion, cooperative learning small groups, counseling. Sometimes, I'm not sure what to do, so trial and error is a good strategy. I try to use evidence based practices, but the old fashioned approach of "tried and true" works really well! I'm not a really organized person, but I know where my kids are and what they need. I'm also ready to try new techniques, but sometimes I can't seem to get it together to figure out new things to do. I am often called to "fight fires" that have nothing to do with the kid's disability, but I am the chief advocate for the kid as a whold person, not just a speech kid. Planning for 40 completely different kids in 2 schools is a challenge. Hmm...did I describe anything...?

Day 3 lunch Describe how your students learn best. Exceptional education students have many, many different ways of learning, but I have found that hands-on is best for all of them. They typically need visual, touching, and movement in order to learn. Then they need many repetitions of the concept in order to retain it and much review in order to keep it! Teach, test, reteach, review.... over and over and over. We find the very basic concept, cut out the details, and teach from there. Talking slowly is a must! Using less vocabulary and simpler language is a must. These kids need to "live the concept."

Shutdown/Power off Still learning bunches and taking copius notes! Hating the fact that we crash so often. Following directions closely and sounds still not working! Even Dr. Park couldn't fix it! It's time to stop and try again tomorrow! Brainstorming my intro for my story line. Maybe that will work tomorrow! I hope so. I'm getting impatient!

Day 4 morning What do you do well when connecting with your students? I'm open and honest, "what you see is what you get," and I usually get that same response from the kids. I am a "rock" for the kids, but not their close friend. I connect very quickly to the kids, because I'm honest with them. They know that when "the door's shut" that they can talk and ask for help and that they are safe.

Do you have any concerns about connecting with your students? Sometimes, I probably connect too personally with my kids. My kids very often have lots of issues, moreso than the average screwed up middle schooler! I have to do a lot of work outside of my field in order to provide support for them. We develop a major bond, but sometimes that bond gets me into a mess. I often lose sleep over my kids.

Day 4 lunch What interests you in video games as a form of teaching? I know that my kids have learned from games, like Earobics, Thinking Things, How Things Work, etc. I have used these extensively. Earobics is research based. When this opportunity arose, it made sense for us to learn to create games for specific content needs. I know that video games definitely interest kids and I also know that they work!

Shutdown/Poweroff Made progress today. Lisa's still not moving though. Really glad to get my laptop. Thanks! Having my own equipment that works (most of the time), is much better. The NCSU folks are great to work with, lots of help! Not really ready to quit today, but need to pick up my daughter! ready for tomorrow.

Day 5 morning How do I expect this game to help me connect to my students? I think the kids will think this is the coolest! Bingo! Connection established! I'm concerned that they will be impatient and want more games and I won't be able to develop them quickly. That's ok, I'll cross that bridge later! Anyway, I think that the kids will love gaming like this and will think very highly of me in that I have brought this wonderful concept to them!

Day 5 lunch Who supports and who benefits from this project? Hmmm... We all benefit and surely support this project. I definitely need NCSU and Kim support! I definitely benefit from all support. The kids will benefit from this project and in turn will support this effort. This project is so cutting edge! I have seen good support from the Lee County Schools Central Office folks. With their support, I definitely know that the schools will benefit.

What other technology do you wish you could use or have support for? Smartboard Trust me, a lot!

Shutdown/Power off What a week! Thanks for this opportunity. I have learned so much about lots of areas of IT. This project is cool and I truly believe that it will benefit the kids. I'm glad that I've spent this week here and am eager to keep practicing and learning. It is frustrating to handle the gliches and it's taken a lot of help to get through them, but I know that I have support. I'm anxious to keep working, but I'll have to take a break for at least a week now (vacation). Thanks for this opportunity.