Sunday, December 4, 2011

Final Project #16



Blog Post #14

Box of Tricks
By: Jose Picardo

ICT and Education logo




Watching Jose Picardo's video Top Ten Tips for Using Technology in the Classroom was very interesting in that with the exception of two, he mentioned the same tools we have been utilizing or learning about in EDM 310.  Over the course of the semester we have gained much of our knowledge through videos, by creating our own blog and by viewing the blogs of other students and teachers.  Through these two tools, not only a skill set was obtained but also a broad range of thoughts and ideas have been proposed to us that have helped influence our own way of thinking that will carry over into our own class room.  We have also had the responsibility of demonstrating our knowledge of the SMART Board and creating interactive exercises along with publishing our own podcast.  Social networks and internet tools such as Google Docs and Symbaloo have allowed us to stay organized and build our personal learning network.  Perhaps the most exciting tool Picardo suggests and we have gotten to use in EDM 310 is teleconferencing tools such as Skype.  Through our Skype interviews we were privileged to conduct interviews with influential educational leaders and some even had the opportunity to interview children's book authors.  While none of our assignments directly instructed us to incorporate music or utilize our own media devices such as iPods and cell phones, many students took the initiative and found way to do so anyway.  With all that being said according to Jose Picardo, we should have no excuse to not take these top ten tips and implement them in the class room.    Picardo also offers something I have included in my own PLN, an A-Z list of internet resources for education.  With the knowledge and networks gained this semester in EDM 310 along with this list, we are set up for success in our own education and to facilitate the education of our future students.  

Final Report on PLN

Ashley Haddock's Symbaloo

My personal learning network has definitely grown since the last report.  The layout Symbaloo offers allows me to easily access the sites I regularly visit.  I tried to engage in Twitter more, but cannot seem to get what I can out of other sites such as TeacherTube, TED, and The Alabama Virtual Library.  Adding the appropriate people to follow so that I can use Titter as a quality tool in my education is something I look forward to doing even after the completion of EDM 310.  

C4K #3

On the blog The age of Exploration, students of a tenth grade modern world history course post reflections regularly pertaining to the lesson of that day.  On October 24, 2011 Robby posted why he thought Research Based Classes are Superior.  This particular history class is based on research and presentation rather than lecture.  Robby feels that instead of gaining a wide range of historical facts, he has gained better skills in time management and presentation all the while learning about the subjects that interest him in depth.  I felt that he is not only taking charge of his own education, he is also adding credibility to his name by having researched fully the historical claims he may make.

While exploring Mrs. Yollis' class blog, I came across a picture in her 365 project in which students post a picture a day to the blog.  This picture is of a squirrel stealing fruit that grows in on of the student's back yard.  They had explained that this made the squirrel a nuisance.  I particularly liked this picture because I also have a pair of squirrels in my backyard who enjoy stealing satsumas and pecans from my trees.  I explained that even though they may be annoying, it is fun to watch them fight over the nuts and fruit and to see how even animals can have different personalities.

Finally, Kaycee from Room 14 at Pt England School in Auckland, NZ posted a picture and some facts about the person she admires, Nicole Scherzinger formerly of The Pussycat Dolls and currently a judge on the X-Factor.  Kaycee explained that she admired Nicole for her talented dancing and singing.  I told her another reason to admire Nicole so greatly was because she went to college and put her education first before going on to her professional career, something not a lot of performers do.

C4T #4

Open Thoughts




On October 29, 2011 Scott Kemp posted to his blog of unfinished thoughts  a quote, "The more you talk about what you believe, the more everyone will know what you believe."  He followed up this quote  by saying  in order for educators become better, we have to be willing to step outside of our comfort zones.  I commented that not only expressing our beliefs influences others to think the same way, but also gains a certain amount of respect for ourselves by holding true to those beliefs and not fear being ridiculed.  I also stated my belief that society cannot progress if we all hold our beliefs to ourselves.   Another very interesting post Mr. Kemp posted was a link on November, 14 2011 to an article from the Harvard Education Letter containing a unique way of reflection.  Instead of only looking back on what was succeeded or not, this article emphasizes to reflect on how your opinions have changed as a result of a particular experience. For example, the author of this article uses the template "I used to think.......and now I think.....".  I am very excited to use this format in my own reflection of EDM 310 because my opinions and view points have changed in ways I never thought they would.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Project #15 SMART Board Presentation #2

By: Lauren Mckenzie, Meredith Anderson and Ashley Haddock 



Special Assignment #1 Metaphors

It is a common thought that metaphors exist primarily in a literary form.  The reality, however, is that metaphors litter our everyday lives.  Since the earliest forms of writing, metaphors have been used to draw comparisons by saying one thing but intending another in order to explain things that are otherwise difficult to describe.  It is imperative in today's society that these metaphors are understood.

Metaphors have played a major role in describing historically important events in the world.  For instance, the term "Iron Curtain" is used to symbolize the Berlin Wall that divided Eastern and Western Germany from the conclusion of World War II to the late 80's.  This term not only reinforces the physical boundary that existed, but also the boundaries of ideologies and the firm stance that was held by both sides.  History books can only go so far to explain the intangible factors seen throughout time, this is where the use of metaphors become useful.  To those that did not live during the Cold War and cannot recall the tensions that were felt nor the fear the world's citizens lived with can collectively infer with the use of this term what life must have been like.  

Metaphors have proven to be a successful tool in the fields of medicine and science.  For most people, understanding scientific concepts do not come naturally and they require a different approach to process the information.  Here metaphors, more specifically analogies, allow an internal mental picture to form and a connection can then be made.  Because the language used in medicine can be unclear to the common person,metaphors are often used when talking about matters of health. Doctors employ this figure of speech to help patients and their family members understand fully certain medical conditions and how they will be treated.  Other metaphors are used to articulate the function of certain organs in the body. For example, the heart is a pump and the brain is a computer.  

One of my favorite examples of the use of metaphors in literature is found in the book To Kill a Mockingbird.  Mockingbirds represent innocence. Like hunters kill mockingbirds, Harper Lee portrays in this classic the many ways people kill innocence and the determination one father exhibits to preserve the innocence in his own children as well as in others.  Another book that implements great usage of metaphors is Eudora Welty's The Optimists Daughter.  This story line offers little plot twists and almost no suspense.  It does, however, contain a plethora of  deep, intense emotions that define the novel.  These feelings are portrayed not by being inside the main character's head, but through a string of metaphors that allow readers to perceive the character's internal struggle that are externally revealed at the end.  

It amazes me in a time where metaphors are inescapable, so many people missed the metaphor found in Tom Johnson's blog Don't Let Them Take The Pencils Home.  Our lives are peppered with metaphors.  We cannot drive down the road without encountering a billboard that possesses one.  Metaphors often determine the products we buy as a result of their ingenious use by advertising agencies, whether we realize it or not. Politicians use metaphors on a daily basis to build popularity for votes or reassure his or her constituents that certain policies are necessary.  Surely no one actually believed that Dr. Strange literally meant that teachers "pour information" into their student's heads after drilling a hole in the top and then "burps them" to get back that information.  Since metaphors have become such a large part of everybody's daily lives, they have become a normal facet of language not matter how embellished the comparison is.  Perhaps this leads to a little insight as to why so many students missed Tom Johnson's metaphor.  When required to recognize a metaphor, there appears to be nothing out of the ordinary.  The key to realizing that a metaphor is being used is to pay close attention to the context clues surrounding the comparison.  It is vital to be able to identify metaphors  and what they mean not only to ensure academic success, but also to make sure sound, informative decisions can be made outside of the classroom.   

Blog Post #13

No TV Allowed


My e-Media Fast

My endeavors to complete a 24 hour period without using any form of media was not only a test upon myself, but my family as well. For this reason, I had seriously considered taking the easy way out and complete one of the other options for this assignment instead. Once I thought about my decision farther, I felt this would be a good opportunity for my children to practice a little self discipline and also give them an idea of what life could be like without these luxuries we all take for granted. Losing television, radio, and the computer was no problem at all for me. My daily activities as a wife, mother and student leave me little time to afford much recreational usage of these media devices. My biggest challenge, however, was refraining from using the telephone and having enough patience to listen to my children's continuous complaints about not being able to watch television or use their V-Reader.  For these reasons, my challenge to go 24 hours without using any kind of media ended in failure.

My first attempt did not go as planned because my husband was home and he was unwilling to cooperate or make the challenge any easier.  My second attempt defeated the purpose of the activity as I planned to start the fast at a time that was more convenient for our family to do without these means of entertainment. The initiation of the final attempt began without notice and privileges were halted abruptly.  This third and final attempt began a whole lot smoother than the previous two did and I had high hopes for the success of this challenge.  As the day progressed and boredom set in with the kids, the continuity of this experiment was in severe jeopardy.  We worked through the boredom and found plenty of other activities to keep busy with.  The kids completed the day successfully going to bed not having had exposure to any source of media entertainment.  The fast suddenly ceased when, without even thinking, I picked up the phone to call my husband who was out of town.

This media fast has definitely been a learning experience for my entire family.  The time my kids and I spent  together finding things to do without the use of any electronic devices is time I will cherish forever.  During this short period of time, I witnessed a change in my children's behavior and the way they interact with one another as well as myself.  While I think it is drastic to completely eliminate media devices on a daily basis, I think it is a good idea to limit the amount of time that is spent on them.  We have also decided as a family that a media fast will be conducted on occasion to give ourselves uninterrupted quality time together.  This activity has also brought me to the realization that the children that will come into my classroom are exposed to enormous amounts of stimuli on a daily basis.  As a result of this children's brains respond better to faster paced material and are quick to bore.  This idea is crucial to take into consideration when developing lesson plans.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Progress Report on Final Project

For our final project, Lauren Mckenzie and I have decided to create a video on the positives and negatives of EDM 310 which highlight the strategies we have encountered in the video making process. A script has been started on Google Docs which allows us to continue to work on this project when scheduling conflicts arise that prevents us from meeting in person and ensuring momentum is not lost during the time we are not working face to face.

Blog Post #12

As a result of being a student of EDM 310, I have had an opportunity to view technology and its usefulness in the classroom a whole other way.  The only thing I have felt that is missing from this learning experience is learning how technology can assist and benefit children with special needs.  Since school systems have begun the inclusion process, the way in which pre-service teachers are being taught has changed in a way that allows them to be able to give these students the instruction and care they so desperately need.  So far the blogs and material that we have been instructed to read focuses mainly on how technology can be used to enhance mainstream student's education.  I feel these same techniques and strategies can also help children with special needs, but I also feel there are other ways technology can be used to help them either cope with or overcome any disability they may have.  I would like to engage my fellow classmates in pondering ways technology can change a child with disabilities' life.  First, explore Glenda's Assistive Technology Blog. Pay particular attention to her post iPads in the Special Education Classroom.  Here, Glenda provides first hand accounts of how the iPad and the applications available changed the lives of children with Autism and Cerebral Palsy.  Watch the videos provided at the bottom of the post. Writing a Quality Blog Post, provide your reactions to the way in which the iPad is used in this manner.  Then, think of ways that the other technology we have learned about in EDM 310 can also help children with special needs and include them in your post.

child with iPad

As a parent, it is a devastating blow to receive a diagnosis that your child has a disability.  The process to find quality educators to help the child can be an exhausting, maddening and emotionally draining one.  On the other hand, it is just as exhausting, maddening and emotionally draining for the educators to find resources and techniques to provide children with special needs the quality education they deserve.  In her blog post iPads in the Special Education Classroom, Glenda Anderson provides ways the iPad can assist educators in providing opportunities to students with special needs not previously available.  In his video,The iSchool Initiative, Travis Allen addresses steps that can be taken with touch technology to reform the way schools operate.  While Travis Allen's ideas are all wonderful, I wished he had addressed what Glenda Anderson does in this blog.  With applications such as iWriteWords and Stories2Learn, just a name of few, children with Autism have been able to break social and behavioral boundaries never before broken, opening up doors and possibilities for these children.  In her blog, Do it Myself, Glenda Hyatt shares her experiences living with Cerebral Palsy and also how the iPad has changed her life through the application Prologuo2Go available on this device.  The touch technology provided allows her to keep up with her blog and post her experiences by typing with one thumb.  Through this fascinating technology, she has gained a certain level of self sustaining independence she otherwise would not have had available to her had it not been for the iPad.  Other possible ways technology can be useful to students with disabilities is offered through the SMART Board technology.  By allowing hands on interactive manipulatives and large visual stimuli, children with autism have a better chance to excel in the classroom.  The SMART Board can also be very beneficial to children with Dyslexia which impairs a students ability to read, spell, and process numbers properly.  With the assistance of a SMART Board, teachers can incorporate interactive phonics activities to build the child's awareness of the letter's sounds in words and also provides multisensory experiences for the student.  The SMART Board can also make a profound difference in children with musculoskeletal disorders through its ease of writing and large touch technology. There are a wide range of disabilities that teachers of an inclusive classroom will encounter, the aforementioned examples are just a few ways to make the inclusive process not only smooth, but also productive and meaningful for the student.   


Mrs. Yollis' Classroom Blog

Mrs. Yollis' classroom blog is an absolutely wonderful example of how beneficial classroom blogging can be.  I particularly enjoyed reading about the Skype sessions the class conducted with students from Georgia and Australia.  I thought it ingenious to structure the sessions as a "mystery" call and having the students ask particular questions, then having them guess where the other class is from, putting problem solving and other knowledge learned to the test.  The "share and compare" session Mrs. Yollis' class participated in with students from Australia can be just as valuable.  From reading the student's reflections and viewing pictures taken during the call, I learned information about Australia that I was not aware of.  This is such an awesome way to build student's awareness of a variety of cultures and cultivate in them an acceptance of others different from them.  Mrs. Yollis' class is also taking other steps in building their knowledge of diversity by participating in a global project called Our World, Our Stories.  Here, participating classes from various parts of the world share customs from the traditional food they eat, how their recess time is spent to what a typical school day is like.  I would be interested to find out if each class tries the new things they have learned from the others or if some of the new customs have become habits of their own.  Another great aspect I find heartening that really does not have to do with blogging in general was the classroom's participation in collecting money for UNICEF while trick-or-treating.  This project allowed the students to practice their math skills while learning about the importance of philanthropy.  Finally, I find it impressive that Mrs. Yollis' class blog has nearly double the amount of visitors than the EDM 310 class blog has had.  This is astounding giving Mrs. Yollis' count started only two days earlier than EDM 310's did.  Mrs. Yollis and her students have apparently been working very hard to create a quality blog that has grasped the interest of a multitude of people including the student's parents and other family members.  These students and their teacher should be very proud of themselves for what they have accomplished through their class blog.  

Monday, November 7, 2011

Project #14-Skype Interview

Interview With Deborah Diesen
Author of The Pout Pout Fish, The Pout Pout Fish In The Big Big Dark and The Barefooted, Bad- Tempered Baby Brigade



Sunday, November 6, 2011

C4K #2

At the beginning of October I had the pleasure of viewing a blog from a class in New Zealand.  This particular blog post consisted of many different avatars the children created of themselves.  One particular avatar I enjoyed looking at was Zana's avatar.  Her avatar depicted a splendid setting on the beach with palm trees and her dog.  When asked to tell the students something interesting about the United States, I had picked up on her interest in the water and told her about the jubilee that is experienced no where else but on the Mobile Bay.

Another blog I took joy in reading came from a delightful 6th grader sharing her experiences in a science experiment.  Katlyn tells us in detail an alternative method to make ice cream right at home.  With all the necessary ingredients and just a one gallon zip lock bag, home made ice cream can be yours in very little time.  My family loves ice cream and after reading this I have tried it with my own kids, which has quickly become a favorite of theirs.

A blog that I found fascinating came from Dalton.  In this one he shows his enthusiasm for how the human body functions.  He uses a picture of a human esophagus and mentions the many things we would not be able to do without one or if it is damaged as a result of not taking care of our bodies.

One other blog that was a lot of fun to read came from a group of children in Ms. Dorby's third grade class.  Following up to the story Flat Stanley and The Magic Lamp students had an opportunity to do what the character in this story has done and took two animals to create one new animal.  The imaginations of these children were boundless and amazed.  They came up with creatures such as a "choth", which is the combination of a cheetah and sloth, and a "giraphant" which is a giraffe and an elephant.  Along with the animal's appearances, the students also imagined what these make believe creature's activities and favorite foods would be.  I had asked them if they drew pictures to go along with the narratives because I sure had lots of fun picturing what these animals would look like in my own head!

Finally, I viewed an animation of the Grand Canyon created by Cyrus, a student also from New Zealand.  In his short video, Cyrus provided interesting facts about the Grand Canyon including its placement on the list of the natural wonders of the world.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Blog Assignment #11

Ms. Cassidy's First Graders

Future of Learning

 Ms.  Cassidy's video displays the various activities her first grade students are partaking in with the help of technology.  I am amazed at the functions these young children are capable of performing.  My first formal computer class that taught just basic skills did not take place until I was in 8th grade.  The children in this video are performing operations on programs that did not even exist until my senior year in high school.  When I think about how much of an advantage these children have over me and the opportunity that has been provided to them that I never dreamed of possessing makes me feel it is a waste of potential and doing students a disservice to NOT utilize the tools technology provides.  As seen in the video, students have the chance to expand their writing skills.  In her Skype Interview  with Dr. Strange and former EDM 310 students, Ms. Cassidy expresses that some of her student's blogs contain only one sentence.  I find that fascinating in that most first grader's skills sets do not allow them to write a full sentence until half way through their first grade year.  To me, this is proof of one example of the positive impacts writing blogs can have on a student's education.  Another aspect of blogging that I feel is beneficial for students is the ability they have to interact with individuals from other countries.  This type of interaction allows young students to think beyond their own environment and experience a multitude of traditions from a variety of other cultures all while building rich interpersonal skills.  The only possible downfall I can foresee as a result of this use of technology in the classroom is not knowing how to balance time spent on the computers with time children spend in face to face interaction.  There really are no excuses to not use technology in the classroom, as Ms. Cassidy explains, most of what she knows she taught herself.  

Sunday, October 30, 2011

C4T #3

In his blog,The Thinking Stick, Jeff Utecht introduces a project that has gotten students and even teachers involved in their own technological enlightenment.  His Become A Google Apps Ninja program provides an opportunity to enhance research proficiency on the internet.  By taking tests designed by Mr. Utecht himself, participants search for the answers on Google.  At least an 80% is required before the test taker receives a widget of a belt colored appropriately for the amount of tests completed to be displayed on their blog.  The highest achievement identifies the participant as a "Google app ninja".  This project is an excellent way for anyone to perfect their technological skills.  As the old adage goes, practice makes perfect, and this is what Mr. Utecht has offered through friendly competition and self motivating habits.

Another post on Mr. Utecht's blog that has allowed me to view technology and everything I have learned in EDM 310 in a different perspective is Technology: More Than A Tool, A New Skill.  In this post Mr. Utecht lists a couple of sayings he has vowed to eliminate from his vocabulary, including referring to technology as "21st century" as we are 11 years into the century.  Another one that resonated clearly for me was referring to technology as "just a tool".  Just about everything that I have read and watched as a requirement for EDM 310 has had a continuing theme that technology is a tool used for education and not just entertainment.  Mr. Utecht takes this a few step farther and says that technology is a skill rather than just a tool.  He is 100% correct.  The tools technology has to offer are no good if the skills required to function are not intact.  This has enlightened me and has offered new thoughts on the approach that I must take when introducing these technological tools to my future students.

Blog Assignment #10

Do You Teach or Do You Educate?

Until I watched this video, I never real thought about the differences between teaching and educating.  To be honest, I did not think there was a difference.  Their is, however, a clear distinction between the two verbs upon completion of this short movie.  To teach is much more simpler than it is to educate.  Teaching is a task just about anyone can accomplish, it is easy to show how something is done or to relay information.  In order to educate one must be able to instill in others the belief that they have the competence and mental capacity to achieve any goal imaginable and then help them reach that goal.

Education This Way

A poll conducted by MSNBC in 2007 found that 1 in 4 adults read no books in the course of a year.  I have to wonder if these 1 out of 4 had teachers or educators while in school.  My bet is they had teachers.  Educators not only act as mentors and implant moral compasses in their students, they also help their pupils see that learning is a process and not an event.  Educators understand that learning is a way of life rather than just a period of time.  It is up to educators, rather than teachers, along with parents to provide an environment that encourages exploring, discovering, and learning.  This is why I plan to educate instead of teach, as I hope others entering the field of education vow to do the same.  If not, I fear the number of adults who read books will continue to drop.

In his blog Tom Johnson's Adventures In Pencil Integration, teacher John Spencer takes on the persona of 1890's teacher Tom Johnson to tackle modern day school system's obsession with technology integration.   Through a string of hyperboles, highly satirical remarks and metaphors, Tom Johnson presents both the good and the bad technology has to bring to the table.



One particular post, Don't Let Them Take Pencils Home challenges the common ideology that technology is a student's "kryptonite" and the accusations that claim having this technology accessible in homes is the cause for lower test scores.  Mr. Johnson counteracts a fellow coworker's concerns that, in this case, allowing students to take home pencils has adversely effected test scores.  Whether it is 1897 and the use of pencils are becoming novel or it is 2007 and the use of computers are becoming increasingly popular, the point Mr. Spencer is trying to make is that no matter what tool is being used, there is an infinite degree of learning possibilities available.  It is up to educators and parents to demonstrate these devices can be used to facilitate learning instead for pure entertainment.

Through Tom Johnson, Mr. Spencer also conveys many educator's preoccupation with standardized tests.  Rather than being interested in knowing how students can apply what they have learned to real life situations, school administrators have place an urgent desire to know exactly how much facts are being poured into a student's head and their ability to regurgitate these facts on demand.  This I think has created a tense environment in the classroom between teachers, students and even parents.  Of course there is a marginal need for the "drill-and-kill" bubble test to monitor teacher performance, but perhaps what Mr. Spencer is trying to relay here is that technology is a good way to gauge a student's ability to take learned information and apply it, which can eliminate a stressful learning environment and allow students to flourish in their education rather than drown.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Blog Assignment #9

What Mr. Joe McClung Learned in 2008-2009

When reading Joe McClung's reflective blog from the 2008-2009 school year, many of the lessons he learned in his first year of teaching struck a cord with me.  Some of these ideas are those I never imagined would be an issue when the day comes that I will step into my own classroom.  Knowing about some of these challenges (as I am sure there are more yet to be discovered) ahead of time gives me a little bit of an idea how to mentally prepare for that day.  One important lesson learned that McClung discusses is the importance to be flexible.  As a mom I struggle with this on a daily basis with my own children.  I often get frustrated if naps aren't taken at a specific time everyday if we don't make it to a destination right on time because of some confrontation that took place before we left the house.  It has taken me some time to understand that the more stringent a schedule your kids are on, the more uptight they will be.  It never occurred to me that this same concept applies to the classroom.  I have always had this vision that classrooms run like a well oiled machine; order and punctuality  prevails in a classroom. After reading McClung's blog, I realize that when dealing with children, especially small children, delays are to be expected and things may not go as planned.  The key is to know how to improvise and work around these small road blocks.  I find McClung's sarcasm towards drama in the workplace to be very amusing.  Though we are adults,we are still human beings and drama in the workplace is inevitable if not unavoidable.  His solution for resolving any problems created by drama is to communicate with those who have caused it and perhaps build a friendship out of it.  The most important lesson I feel should be taken to heart is to always listen to your students.  As expressed by Jed Baker in his book No More Meltdowns and by McClung himself, it is important to take interest in our student's lives before respect can be earned which leads to a healthy teacher student relationship.  Children with behavior problems in classrooms are expected to change their ways automatically without considering what could be causing this disruptive behavior.  Often times it is the adults that need to change their behavior toward the child.  Listening to students and getting to know them is a big key in correcting and maybe even preventing undesirable behavior.


a calendar




What Mr. Joe McClung Learned in 2010-2011

It was very interesting to read McClung's blog three years after he posted his first reflective blog and see how he applied everything he learned in his first year in education to his current methods of teaching.  Some new lessons he had learned, however, stuck out that I pondered further.  Two of these were connected to one another, he says not to expect others to as excited about change as you are and to not be afraid to be an outsider.  Not many people are susceptible to change and are afraid of it.  Having grown up in a military environment, change is all I have known.  I love change, I embrace it, in fact I cannot stand when something has been the same way for any given period of time.  In the past my patience with people who duck and dodge any kind of change has been almost non existent.  I have found however, that becoming irritated and edgy with those that cannot accept change accomplishes nothing.  If a little bit of patience is exhibited and time is given to people to fully grasp the idea of whatever is being changed, opinions can eventually be turned the other way.  In accordance with this idea, McClung also urges young teachers to not be afraid to be an outsider.  We have all been in a situation where we behave like a bunch of sheep and follow the crowd in fear of sticking out like a sore thumb.  Who is that really being true to though?  When you know what you believe in and stick firmly to those beliefs, people may not like you but they will sure have an ample amount of respect for you.  And personally, I would prefer respect over popularity any day.  I also feel this is the only way new and exciting ideas are brought about, people not afraid to go against the common belief.     

Project #13 Smartboard Instruction Part 1