Final Reflection

Special Assignment on Metaphors

1.) I missed the metaphor because I didn't see anything in the post to suggest to me that it was a metaphor. I thought it was just a STRANGE assignment from Dr. Strange and just accepted the whole thing at face value. I also would've never thought that we would have an assignment as "deep" as using metaphors. Predominantly in this class we have learned about all types of technology, and then we have had a few blog posts that have made us think about life and the "deeper" side of how we really want to live life a.k.a The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. I haven't thought about metaphors since I was in high school and EDM 310 was the last place I thought we would be learning about them. But I was wrong...obviously!

2.) I went to church last Wednesday and the college intern read from Matthew 13:24-30. It's the Parable of the the Wheat and Weeds. Jesus tells a story about a garden that becomes infested with weeds because the gardener's enemy planted weeds in it. Therefore, when it comes time to harvest, it is a mixture of good fruit and the weeds. Everything symbolizes something else: the weeds are the evil people, the master gardener is Jesus, the enemy who planted the weeds is the Devil, the harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels. I know this isn't a simple metaphor like "It's raining cats and dogs," but this story is still definitely a metaphor. The story just stuck out to me and I knew I would use it in this blog post when we read it at church last week.

3.) I think we need to teach our students to think more "outside the box". If we teach our students to think more analytically and creatively from the beginning then our students won't be like us in EDM 310 and not know we're reading a metaphor. I really don't think we need more projects on metaphors, because I personally think those are boring. Also, if students know they are working on a "metaphor" project then they will be able to decipher it better. If students are just reading a normal story and assume from the beginning it's to be understood at face value, then they will miss the metaphor. Students should be able to look at anything in life and see the deeper meaning, not just when they are told to do so.

4.) I think we use metaphors to express what life is all about in a different way--a way that isn't boring, but can be creative and fun. I honestly am not a fan of metaphors because I'm a woman of straightforward talk and ideas being black and white, but that being said, I think metaphors are a good tool to use to help spur creative thinking.

Final Report PLN

I have been using Symbaloo as the major source for my Personal Learning Network. I really like it because I make it my homepage and I can organize all of my tabs and bookmarks on here into different categories. I like how I can put everything I use on a daily basis right here on a tile and it's there for me to see. I like how easy Symbaloo is to use and categorize into anything I want. 

I've also been using Twitter a little bit more since the mid-term. Although I don't post many updates on my own twitter account, I like following other people and finding out what so many educators have to say. It's so great because it's like a treasure hunt and you don't know what you will find. It's really cool how I can click on one educator's twitter page, which leads me to their blog, which then leads me to another person I'm interested in looking into and reading about.

I'm a big fan of discovering people's blogs and subscribing to their feeds and keeping up with them that way, almost more than Twitter.

I have to say my Personal Learning Network has developed a lot more since the mid-term, but it's definitely a work in progress and always will be when I find new people and places to see on the Web.

Here's a screenshot of my Symbaloo:

Comments for Teachers (C4T) Summary Post #4 arvind s grover

21 Apples
Learning in the 21st Century


arvind s grover








Comment #1


Gender Transformative ABC's-Incredible Resource for Breaking Traditional Gender Norms

Mr. Grover brought to the attention of his viewers a website called truechild.org. He thinks all educators should read it because it is a great resource for combatting traditional gender norms for children.

I comment on his post by saying that I like his style and how he writes his name with all lowercase letters. I say that it's a great idea that he brought this to the attention of all educators. It's something I would've never thought of looking into. I say that regardless of a teacher's personal beliefs, or my personal beliefs, we should all be educated on what our children are faced with and struggling with so we know how to help. I say that this issue isn't going away so we should learn how to embrace it...just like technology. I thank him for the enlightenment.

Comment #2


Amazon announces 11,000 libraries to lend out Kindle books. More gamechanging.

Mr. Grover talks about how libraries are going to have Kindle books at their disposal for patrons to be able to check out. People will be able to read them on their smartphone, Kindle, iPad, or with anything that uses a Kindle application. There is an article from Amazon that says there will even be a feature where you can highlight and write in the margins and when you check-out the book again or decide to buy it, you'll be able to see everything you wrote down before. He says he has used a Kindle a few times and he has critiques about them, but he thinks this library lending idea is a good idea for schools to start thinking about.

I commented how I think this library lending thing that Kindle is doing is a great idea, especially for people who love using the Kindle so much. However, I say I will not be using this. I don't have a Kindle or have a desire to get one. I've tried reading books on my Mac using my Kindle app and I just can't get into it.  There's something about checking out a book from the library, smelling the mustiness, touching the pages and the book jacket--it's something I love and will always continue to do.