Project #10 Final Report

     This is what my PLN, Personal Learning Network, looks like as of today, April, 27, 2012. The two of us have been through many, many transformations. Due to overcrowding I have added two columns to each side. Now it has more room to grow and is not such a jumble of sites, to me. I have tried separations of topics by color but in the end it did not work for me.

     What I have created are groups of similar topics: banking, shopping, school, communication, projects, and blogs. This week after a lot of contemplation, and  hesitation my PLN finally replaced MSN as my homepage. To quote Leyna, from my Project #15, "Ta-da!" She did it better. Seriously, go check her out!

     So far my PLN has performed better than I dared to hope. As I discover new places to visit they will be duly added and my boundaries will expand as needed. Goodbye bookmarks!

Project #15

Assignment #13

                                          

 This assignment came at a perfect time. Blog assignment #13 is an E-Media fast. No electronic or battery powered entertainment or communication devices can be utilized for a consecutive 24 hour period. Luckily, the rest of my household was out of town and the only one who could mess this up for me was ME. Which is not necessarily a good thing. I can be my own worst enemy at times.

But, as Barney Stinson from How I met Your Mother is fond of saying, "Challenge accepted." Cue the 'what have I done' dramatic music!
                                                      

     Problem number one: I use my iphone as an alarm clock and during the night as a source of white noise to help me sleep. So I borrowed an alarm clock from another room, reset it and waited for the dreaded screeching noise. It did in fact deliver as promised and jolted me rudely awake at 7a.m. I do not like alarm clocks. Never did, and probably never will. I can wake up to a pin drop and do not want a jarring noise substitute for my soft, gentle nature sounds. I can not remember how many times I reached for the television remote in the morning. Somehow getting dressed is not the same without the Today Show. It is possible, just not as entertaining. On the plus side. I was ready to leave a lot sooner than usual. My iphone was silenced and not even set to vibrate. My day of e-fasting was underway. I really missed listening to music in the car. I am not used to so much silence. So I spent my non-driving time observing those around me. There were several people singing! Most people just stare straight ahead. I am almost always one of the singing drivers. Kids, on the other hand stare a lot! They will also wave when prompted. Me, too! So instead of being bored I found a way to amuse myself and capture a few smiles in the process.

     Tuesday is a fairly busy day on average. I am on campus from 10a.m. to 7:30p.m. Typically I am studying and getting busy work completed in the USA Library between classes. And with two big projects coming due soon in EDM310 I technically needed both of these appliances. But I was able to focus more on my other courses instead. So in a way it was a win/win situation.

     Once I arrived back home, to an empty house, things started to get boring fast. So I finished my chores, did a little tidying, and took the dog for a walk. That was a welcome surprise for her. Again I had a win/win senario with my free time. Time I would otherwise spend with the television on whether or not I was watching it. I did miss checking Facebook, email, Pinterest, bank accounts, Twitter, Drawsome, Words with Friends, and most of all texting with my three daughters and boyfriend, Brian. I can do without a lot of things but not having the freedom to communicate at will is the hardest. I did let family members and Brian know about my assignment. My daughters may have been secretly pleased that I was not going to be repeatedly pestering them for a whole day. Brian had to call the house phone. Which is not a big deal. Lucky for me a land line telephone was within bounds.

     In all I missed having access to text most of all. I live in the age of 'right now.' I remember the 'microwave age' of the eighties as being fast and immediate but nothing like today. I can have immediate interaction or at least send my thoughts any time I want. Yesterday I had to postpone my impulses. It was not impossible or out of the realm of possibility. I enjoyed the peace and quiet a little, but not enough to make a habit of it. I will not ask my kids what they thought of my 'silence.'

     I can say with a lot of certainty that media fasts are a lot more difficult for school age individuals. That is including college students along with grade schools. I have three daughters and I know that their phones are an extension of themselves that almost cannot be severed. For proof all I have to do is reach for their iphone and they hold it tighter. While in grade school they were not allowed to use it. This did not stop them, ever. Instead they learned to text without looking at the keypad. My youngest was amazingly fast and fairly accurate with her T-9 texts. Lucky for them they did not have them taken away by a teacher. Nor did they lose or break them. Their phones were well taken care of at all times. Television runs along that same line. They rarely watched anything important. It was used as a babysitter and could be restricted by me as a form of punishment. Being without entertainment or communication never did anyone harm in the long run. But adjusting to the absence can be difficult. There is a time and place for everything. Finding a working balance between want and need is not easy.
 
                                                   


 Challenge considered,
        accepted
           and
      completed.               

Progress Report on Project #16

     Project #16 is an open ended project that I am developing with Ashley Bauman. Brainstorming has led to a few interesting projects but none as pertinent to what each of us should have before day one. We have decided to build a class website for a fictional third grade. We are gathering ideas from past teacher's sites whose blogs we have read. And plan to interview local educators about necessary and non-productive content.

     This site will showcase the class activities, have a section especially for parents, sections for educational games, blogging, podcasts, homework assignments, suggested reading, and perhaps a few more. Communication between teacher and student, and teacher and parent is an important aspect to education. We believe a website that posts this information and a little more could possibly alleviate confusion, miscommunication,  forgetfulness, and deliver a clear one-stop-shopping hub of information. What sounded easy at first is proving to be slightly more detailed and time consuming. We are enjoying the journey and look forward to a finished product.

Assignment #12

     For this post I am to create an assignment in the spirit of what Dr. Strange and staff in EDM310 could have devised. I am to brainstorm a concept, write the instructions, and then complete it. At first it sounded more like "Go choose the instrument of torture that we will use on you!" But very quickly I got on board and had a good time brainstorming and following my directions.

     This entire semester in EDM310 we have been learning and using many types of technology. Most of these applications have been new to us. We have watched videos and read blogs concerning the importance of technology in the classroom and empowering the students to think for themselves, guide their own learning, be curious, and to spark their creativity. What has not been covered is the first step that comes BEFORE they ever sit down in front of the computer. Plenty of time must be devoted to Internet Safety.

The theme of this assignment is: Internet Safety

     For this assignment you are to create a Glogster using eight examples of: text, images, photos, special effects, and two examples of audio or video. You may add more than ten examples if you wish. I encourage you to explore and be creative with your display. Register as a "Teacher" for future use. Once registered you may start your glog at Glogster EDU.

     We have seen a Glogster in action a few posts back in the Dr. Wendy Drexler/Seventh Grader  video: Welcome to My PLE. A Glogster is an interactive poster/blog. A "graphical blog" of sorts where the reader can interact with the content, hence the name.  It is more fun and creative than a paper poster-board presentation and there is no glue, tape, or construction paper scraps to clean up!     

Here are a few videos to get you started: Ten Ways Schools are Teaching Internet Safety, Andrew Lee, Cyberbully Free, Daniel's- Basic Glogster Use, Beyond the Basics. There are many, many more instructional sites that you can explore. Be creative, and focus on the quality of the content. This presentation could easily serve as your "jumping off" point when introducing technology in your classroom for the first time. Having your students collaboratively create their own will reinforce the ideas you deem most important to their online safety. Enjoy. Be Safe!


     Here is my Glogster. There are two embeded links that will open another window in your browser when your mouse rolls over them. A red circle will appear right before the new window opens. My Glogster is aimed more towards the early elementary student. I believe that after reviewing this Glogster presentation to my class along with adequate discussions on the topic of internet safety they will understand the importance of privacy and ettiquette on the internet.

Creativity & Curiosity: My Thoughts Special Post #12A

                                              ?????? ??????

Curiosity may in fact have killed the cat. But I have heard that satisfaction brought it back. In other words, curiosity can be a positive emotion that leads to the discovery of something new. It can also lead to dangerous instances when improperly executed. At this very point the educator/teacher is most in demand. Guidance during the exploratory and curious stage is necessary to spearhead online safety and unreliable data. One of our many "hats" reads: "Quality Control Agent."

     Why would schools in the U.S. (or anywhere) systematically inhibit a student's natural curious nature? I have sat through many classes in my lifetime, including most of my college classes, that did in fact limit the curiosity factor up to and including asking questions. On the flip side were my two English literary classes that DEMANDED participation as part of the final grade. Believe me, going from "sit down, be still, be quiet, and listen to me" was a shocker. At first it was very difficult. No one wanted to look foolish. Imagine a college classroom, a place of higher learning, and the students are mute. This is a crime against students. We are not drones. In fact we work faster and better when we are personally engaged and somewhat challenged. Those literary classes that started out so awkward did in fact turn into lively, vigorous mini-debates within three weeks. There were times when the professor walked in, asked us a question, and then sat down and watched us go at it! We agreed to disagree many times, but were always polite and respectful. My other classes became even more boring to me because there was no interaction at all. I discovered I could still have that interaction I craved. All that was needed was for me to speak up, sometimes even answering the rhetorical question. It is my education and when I had a relative comment or question it did not necessarily need to wait. I have run on and on and still not answered the fundamental question of "why?"

     "Why" is a wonderful word. It leads to reasoning and the investigation of an answer. Perhaps time constraint within the classroom has lead the teacher towards inhibiting curiosity. But this sounds like an easy cop-out. I have three (now grown) children and I am well aware of the time and energy they demand when in search of something. I had to weigh my time versus their satisfaction. Usually they won out and it was worth it in the long run. It is definitely a better streamlined model to simply "fill the head" and wait for the burping back of a few answers at test time. But what indeed did the student learn but to memorize and regurgitate. Was a real and tangible connection made with the information and will it be retained by the student? The answer, sadly, is probably not. Perhaps along with time constraint is the limited funding and available supplies for the classroom. In many school systems art, music, and even science labs have seen budget cuts up to and including elimination. Those three classes are good examples of curiosity and creativity in motion. And now they have been eliminated. I, for one, was never bored in these three subjects. I was in fact engaged, challenged, and rewarded. The outcome was usually positive and encouraging for next time.

     A curriculum can if fact be created that increases the creativity of students. The key component is direct student involvement. The Constructivist School concept uses engagement as a means of education. The teacher leads the learning process through a series of question/exploration/experimentation/thinking and understanding. The student has an active role in their education and learns how to think, not simply what to think. Not only is the student's education enhanced but also their social and communication skills. The educator's role is that of a guide instead of a supreme being. Technically the burden of teaching is delegated to the student. In a way this is a win-win solution for the teacher and student. Change is gradual and not always welcome. Dr. Strange through EDM310 is hoping to instill creativity, curiosity in his students so that we become the positive agents of change that is needed within the any school system we are hired into. An Executive in retail once told me, "Change is not always a good thing. But it is inevitable." I want to be a positive change.

     For most students there is no shortage of curiosity. The handicap here belongs solely to the teacher's inability to foster this curiosity in a productive learning atmosphere. Why give out all the answers at once. Learning should not be as simple as "plug and chug." Instead I can give out the most basic information, hint about interesting concepts, and challenge my students to engage in their own investigation.

For example: a lesson plan about the Rainforest. I introduce the topic and then we brainstorm about preconceived concepts which naturally leads to the need for more information gathering. The focus is on "gathering" not "getting." The next step is to construction. The students have free reign to the design and materials. I plan ahead and involve parent's resources for basic materials. It is the students role to investigate, collaborate, design, build and, in reality, lead their learning. This is not the typical lecture, worksheet and paper test classroom model. This one involves more involvement for students and teachers (at first). But in the long run this student ultimately comes out far ahead of the "head filled" student.

*

     So far this semester we have been exposed to many new technology applications, and innovative and creative educators from around the world. These people and programs have sparked my curiosity and creativity far past the level I started with this semester. The educators have already blazed a trail and left many videos, podcasts, and blogs as markers for those that follow. It is my job to stay on this path and make sure my students become more actively involved....in their life.

Curiosity killed the cat gave life to creativity.

*Thank you Alyssa Gilman for sharing your AEEC photos with me.

Blog Assignment #11

     Kathy Cassidy's video Little Kids...Big Potential shows what can be accomplished in a classroom when the educator is technologically literate. Ms. Cassidy, a first grade teacher in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, states that it was not her original idea to have technology in her classroom but that all changed twelve years ago when she was given five laptops and decided to put them to good use. Her initial crash course into blogging, creating web-pages, movie making, and skyping has definitely created a more interesting and engaging learning atmosphere for her students. Center-time has a whole new meaning at 1:52. They are using this period for individual learning reinforcement. They have many choices to pick from on their web-page. Even a Nintendo DS gaming system is used as a learning tool by addressing: sharing, and collaborative problem solving. These are good skills for any age student. Ms. Cassidy's First Grade students are blessed to have such a techno-literate teacher.

     Ms. Cassidy's Skype interview with an EDM310 class in 2010 relates her journey into technology, what she has accomplished in ten years, and a few tips on what preservice teachers should focus on now while in school as opposed to later in a classroom. Creating a working PLN, personal learning network, has been stressed by both Dr. Strange and Ms. Cassidy. I have been working on mine by collecting Twitter buddies and following up on their tips, and exploring my C4T blog links. Both of these have been interesting and led to several sites that have potential. And I am confident that there are people on Twitter that would be happy to gives advice when I ask. It goes without saying that the use of Twitter has also pushed by both been pushed by Dr. Strange and Ms. Cassidy.

     Ms. Cassidy states that technology is here to stay and is becoming more mainstreamed every day. The internet has many learning tools for students to practice their writing and communication skills. Teaching internet safety and responsibility helps the student when at school and also at home to be better judge of content and how be be careful with personal information. Being prepared is much better than having to address and fix and issue. She has built a web-page and a blog-site for her students to showcase their work and for parents to access and observe their progress. Encouraging parental involvement and keeping them involved with classroom activities is important.

     The first impediment to incorporating technology into my classroom that I can imagine being faced with is the possible lack of interest and encouragement from my administration or faculty. Technology is still a new concept to many people and thus not widely embraced let alone encouraged. Blazing a trail into new territory without reinforcements is daunting at best. Ms. Cassidy had a good technology guide at her school and found the resources to assist her with the use of her new five laptops. Her principal and faculty were not overly knowledgeable about technology's use in the classroom at first. They did trust her to explore and start building a solid program. Starting something new is rarely easy. But I believe that implementing a classroom web-site and weekly student blogging would win over converts in very little time.  

     The internet can be an amazing source of information and also reinforce skillsets when used at school and at home. Also, allowing the parents web access to the daily activities in my classroom such as: current and future lessons, samples of papers, class news, and links to learning sites creates an open arena where they can observe, and possibly comment on posted work. I believe parents should be involved in their child's learning process from start to finish. With this type of involvement the parents are interactive partners in their child's education.

                 

C4T April

Blogging About the Web 2.0 Connected Classroom


    by: Steven Anderson

Tools and Resources for Creating Infographics

     I checked out Mr. Anderson's personal information and found out he was an East Carolina University alum. So is my oldest daughter and her fiance. So I began my comment with a hearty Pirate "Arggg."

     This weeks blog  is Tools and Resources for Creating Infographics. We have used Wordle in EDM310 this semester. My podcast goup even inserted several Wordles into our video that served as transitions. Wordle is user friendly and is quite fun to use. Google has a program called Google Public Data Explorer. In EDM we have seen data on the public's technology usage. Here is a good site for creating charts and animations.

     Creately combines collaboration and diagramming. There is a free plan for the individual and up to three collaborators. There are many charts, diagrams, maps, and templates to browse. Actually there are seventeen pages to sorts through. Customer comments state that it is easier and cheaper than Microsoft Visio.

     Mr. Anderson gives a shout-out to Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything. It will take me a long time to check this blog out. Everything is an understatement. She has assembled almost everything necessary for researching and creating infographics for the large company down to the individual user. Need help with your PLN? Check this out. There is even a guide page for educators. Now all I need is a LOT of time to check out these two informational blogs.

   Some Handy Tools for YouTube 

     April 23, 2012 is the seventh anniversary of the first video uploaded to YouTube. This is that first video: Me at the Zoo. After watching those 19 seconds and a few others that comprised the first 20 or so uploadsI can definitely say that YouTube has come a long way. And in the same breathe it is still a good medium for those in need of a spotlight. Seven years later school districts are giving it the ok nod. So much has been uploaded that easily lends itself to becoming an accompaniment to lesson plans. Mr Anderson has added a cherry to the top of this anniversary in the form of his most favorite creative and useful tools when using YouTube.

     YouTube Video Editor-  is for those of us without iMovie or access to a Mac. Here are editing tools, music and sounds, and transitions. A Creative Commons (a circle around two cc) search leads to many creative possibilities prior to uploading to your account.
     Quiet Tube- this application sounds too good to be true! This is a bookmarklet that once activated removes all content on the page except for the intended video. No more intrusive video suggestions, comments, or other distractions. Imagine showing a video to your class without all the extra baggage! Enjoy just the meat the video.
     Tube Chop- is for trimming larnger videos into smaller more succinct portions. This samples can be added into presentations and so many other applications. No more wasting
 time waiting for 'the good part!'
     Drag on Tape- This is the next evolution application that follows those above it. Here you edit videos, your and others, and put them together into one fluid mixed presentation.

     I can see an EDM310 class using these applications much in the same way we have used the Macs in our lab. For PC users- your time in the fun-zone is here.

C4K

                                                       Macy

                                                 Vermont, USA

March 27, 2012

     Macy is a student from Vermont who lives on a beef cow and maple-syrup making farm. She is into sports, skiing, art and math. Macy has a horse named Magic. I looked around her blog and found a section titled: "ten things you do not know about me." I was able to comment on her most recent post and this list. I skied at Mt. Stowe a few years ago and really enjoyed the time spent there.
I wished her much success with school and blogging. I also wished her a happy birthday. Macy turned three years old on February 29, 2012.
                                                               

April 3, 2012

     Macy posted a picture of a cow on her blog this week. I asked her if it was the same type of cows her family is raising right now. Currently they have beef cows. I told her an almost tragic story of my younger brother and I when I was her age that involved us making a few cows very, very mad. We survived. And we did not tell anyone. Who wants to be almost trampled by cows and spanked all in the same day?

     I asked her if she had an specific chores to do that involved any of the animals on her family's farm? As stated in an earlier post she has her own horse and her family used to have
 milk cows. I asked which three animals for pets or profit that she would like to have on her
farm and why?

     In another post Macy states that her best friend is named Emily. They met in Kindergarten and have been best friends ever since. They reached for the same toy at a rice table and decided to be friends right then. I had to ask about the rice table. My imagination is not what it should be and at first I thought they met at the cafeteria. I asked her what kind of activities they like doing. I wondered if they rode horses together. I shared that I used to go to a local stable and ride with friends for $5 a half hour. Actually we rode for two hours once a month. We also hung out at the mall or rode bikes after school and on weekends.

     I asked Macy to giver her best friend Emily a "high-five" for me.


April 12, 2012

     I am so excited today! My C4K, Macy, just responded to my two comments I left her last week. She is articulate and creative. I picture a very rambunctious farm girl who knows how to have fun and has many friends. Naturally I responded to one of her responses. She wrote about two games that she and her friend Emily like to play. Well, I knew one of them very well. The other may have been the same but since I wasn't sure I told her my rules. I asked that she send me her instructions if the were different. I just love fun, and silly games.  Fuzzy Bunny is a hysterical one to watch! Watching kids play it is amusing but watch adults act insane is beyond words!

     This week Macy posts about litter and its consequences. Her argument is formed around good and bad littering. Throwing a piece of fruit out the window is deemed ok, but not paper or plastics. She uses decomposition as the basis for her argument. And as a clincher she explains that not only can littering cause harm to the initial animal coming in contact with it but possibly the next one that comes in contact with that animal.

     I commented that littering was just plain bad manners to our Planet Earth. I acknowledged her solid argument along with her justifications. I told her to continue to let people know about the effects of littering. I asked if she had possibly been studying Biology when she learned this information and asked what else she had learned. As always I wished her the best of FUN in school and with her blogging.  

*****************************************************************************

Rosalina, Year 3 Class
Auckland, New Zealand

     Rosalina is six and a half years old and the youngest of three children. Her video blog is all about her family, and what colors, songs, games and food are her favorite. Her family is part Samoan and Niuean. She has an older brother and sister. I told her she was so lucky to have a sister and brother to teach her things and take care of her. I have to younger brothers so I did the teaching. I have always wanted a sister.

     Her favorite game is tee-ball. I asked if she played at school or afterwards on a team. I told her that I did not play but my brothers did and I watched a lot. Tee-ball is a good way to practice your swing before a pitcher starts throwing to you. I wished her luck.

     Pizza bread is her favorite food. No surprise there. My favorite pizza, I told her, was pineapple and ham. I discovered it on vacation in Hawaii a few years ago and have liked it ever since. Luckily it has become more popular and easier to find in restaurants.

     Blue is one of our shared favorite colors. She did not say what shade blue in particular. I told her my favorite blues were the very dark and also the bright blue like the ocean. I mentioned that dark red was not a favorite color that I have heard of before. It must mean something very special to her.

     I congratulated her on her video and hoped that she continued blogging as often as possible. Blogging is an excellent way to practice writing skills and learning about people from all over the world. I also wished her a successful and fun school year.

Assignment #10

Do You Teach or Do You Educate?

     Joshua Bloom's video attempts to enlighten us about the difference between the words: teacher and educator. The question is what do I want to be. Based on his definitions I find it hard to believe that anyone would aspire to be a "teacher." As I watched the definitions of "teacher" scroll across the screen the thought that formed in my mind was "because I said so." In other words the facts have been presented and now they will be accepted and obeyed. As a mother of three I have used that phrase plenty of times and not always as a last resort. It is a shallow statement of a rhetorical fact. It is cold. It does not motivate or encourage cooperation. In fact it does more to turn the intended audience even further away from the desired goal. At times it is a bullying tactic. I know this because I am guilty of using it far to many times. But I seem to have lost my focus and needed to review the video again.

     I watched the "teacher" segment a few more times and I really do not think the four definitions are that far out of the scope of reality. I have every intention of showing and explaining many things. I plan to encourage the acceptance of several facts and principles. I will, in fact, give instruction and information. I will be the cause that helps a student understand something. I want to be the example of what to do or not do and when necessary I will decide on appropriate actions to encourage behavior modifications. To me these seem like solid goals. They are plain, direct and to the point. But it does not end with these statements. There is more, much more below the surface or there should be. I have seen a few teachers that were as shallow as any of these one sentence goals. I knew right away that I could "do it better" if I only knew how. I will surpass these definitions of "teacher" by being an "educator."

Right this moment I may not fully know how to be an educator but I am setting goals. While showing and explaining I can also creatively engage. I can encourage the acceptance of information as fact while also challenging preconceived ideas or misunderstandings. I will motivate my students and encourage thinking and understanding. I will be a role model at all times and a counselor as needed. I will look for new tactics to instill an enjoyment to the process of learning. My students will not try to please me. They will learn how to please themselves. I will help them own their education and be responsible for what they achieve and do not achieve. There is nothing wrong with being a teacher. On the other hand it would be a disservice to merely stop at being "just" a teacher. As an educator I can bring the best of creativity into teaching.


Don't Let Them Take the Pencils Home

     John T. Spencer, a teacher in Phoenix, Arizona, scores a satirical home-run with his Adventures in Pencil Integration blog. I found this site a few months ago through a tip on Twitter. One day several of the educators I follow were tweeting about a new installment. Later that day Mr. Spenser started tweeting back. I added the RSS feed just to see what would develop. It has not been disappointing. In fact it has been a lot of fun picking random posts to read. More than once I laughed aloud. More than once I received evil stares from fellow library patrons. Satire (the witty exposure of human error) is alive and well and perfectly at home on Mr. Spencer's blog.

     Gertrude the School Curriculum Instructional Interventionist Academic Specialist sure has a lot to learn. The top of her to do list should read: replace fear with knowledge. She fears what she does not fully understand. Charts, graphs and tests are not an infallible litmus test for why ideas do or do not work. Even when "it" is not broken it can still be fixed. Sometimes a new creative concept seeps into the mainstream. Tom understands increasing popularity of the pencil and it's many application in and out of the classroom. It is a perfect fit for his students. Tom is a creative educator.

     Speaking of possible classroom applications the computer, iPad, iphone, notebooks, and tablets all went mainstream years ago. Students are proficient with their use as a social media tool. In fact some students are so fully engaged with one if not more of these items that they have become emotionally and physically dependent on them. What better tool to integrate into the classroom than one that has already proven to be addictive and unable to be ignored. Being on the learning curve with teaching and learning is an invaluable tool. Ms. Gertrude should try listening and observing Tom and his students. Tom seems to understand how to motivate his students and even their parents. He has presented Gertrude with a win/win situation. Too bad she can not see past her own fears, delusions, or ignorance. Heaven help the Gertrudes of the academic world when the Toms of the classroom start pushing for and even integrating the very latest technological marvels.

     Spoiler alert: the pencil is a metaphor for the computer. Teacher Tom knows what is a toy by many students can easily be geared as a tool in the classroom with almost no learning curve for the student. Personally I learn when I am enjoying the process not when concepts are being drilled into me. Play can motivate and engage and definitely creates a fertile learning atmosphere.

Project #14