I honestly believe that their are learning styles. However, everyone can learn through these styles it’s just that some are better at learning through some more than others. Take me for instance, I think I am a visual learner whenever I see things done I pick up on it more easily. If someone just told me how to do the problems it takes me a lot longer to learn the information. I know that as teachers we should not make the materials too easy or too hard so I agree that we need to teach students to learn through styles that they are not accustomed to. I also think that if we use more than one style at a time then learning can be fun and that students will be able to use the techniques on their own. Therefore, I do think that learning styles exist. But I do have a question about something. If learning styles do not exist and they are just a myth then why is it that when teachers create a lesson plan they have to have ways of teaching that cater to the visual learner, the tactile learner, the kinesthetic learner and so on.

After reading everyones definitions of distance education I think I finally understand the concept. On the surface distance education is just that, learning from a distance. Involving technology and the classroom in order to teach. But under the surface we get a bit more technical. The term distance learning still means that learning is distant but in this case the only reason the learning is distant is because we have not learned it. So what happens when we put these two meanings together? If we put these to meanings together distance education is any means of teaching or education that is possible in order for us, the students, learn the things that we need to learn. So even if the student and teacher are located in the classroom, if we have not learned the information then the education is distant.

After reading this chapter I realize how many good sites we have to access online for education. The problem that I have with using these sites is that I never know if the site is valid enough to use with a classroom, in an online course, or even to support research. I think that using the internet to teach child is a good idea especially since there are sites that will link students to other countries and allow students to learn about different cultures and languages. By starting children out on the internet early, teachers can teach them the skills they need on the computer to do research quickly and accurately. These days the internet seems to be neccesary for everything and located pretty much anywhere. Having a wireless system makes access easy for the most part. However, the downside to the internet is that children tend to use it to browse Myspace or Facebook. I do not think that it is bad to stay in touch with friends, but when students would rather spend their time on these sites rather than learning subjects such as math, science, english and history it is a bad thing.

I posted before and stated that I am a really busy woman and this week proves it. I am still trying to get my life straight as well as my schedule. I am working two jobs, one in morehead and one in richmond, ky, taking three online courses two which are math and then this course. I am still trying to determine a regular schedule for me to write everyday. But I do think that I am getting a handle on it. I am hoping that it  will not be so bad next week.

I liked reading this article. In high school I loved to memorize text. It was the only thing I was good at in English class. I have learned many ways to memorize text and this memorization tool found here http://www.productivity501.com/how-to-memorize-verbatim-text/294/ is a new one for me. When I had to memorize poems or even The Preamble I would always start with the first sentence memorize it and then add the next line and so on. I would agree that having to memorize more things trains your brain to remember more things. When I was memorizing the poems and everything in high school I found that I remembered more things outside of school in every day conversation or classes. I think that the memorization helps people remember things but I do not think that it will help reduce the effects of Alzheimers. Since Alzheimers is a lack of neuro transmitters in the brain that effect the brain cells, I do not think that memorization will increase the number of nuerotransmitters but I am not a doctor so I could be wrong. In response to Diana’s comment about having to read something 3 times to memorize something it takes 7 correct readings to memorize it correctly if you memorized it wrong in the first place.

For most technology is very hard to use, especially if you do not use it very often. However, even some that use it everyday like I do it can still be tough. I have never done a blog before and the gator was so foreign to me, all I use the internet for is to do research, check email, check Blackboard and to keep touch with friends on Facebook, Myspace and AIM/Yahoo. Once I did a little research and found out what a gator was it makes since. I think that technology is great and that they need to create a great big manual that has all the guides to everything that is realated to computers. I know it’s a stretch but it could be done. Back to the topic now. Other than the gator I did not have any other problems with the technology. Like I said this is all new to me but once I start writing more I will definitely get the hang of this and I am liking it already.

To me, distance education is education that is taught at a distance using technology. For instance, online courses are a form of distance eduacation because students and even the teacher does not have to be present in a classroom in order to learn. Distance learning is very convenient for those students who have full time jobs during the day or even jobs at night. Other forms of distance learning include the University programs that are offer online (i.e. the University of Pheonix), and the IT courses that link classroom to classroom for those students who like being in the classroom but can not make it to another campus.

Hmmmm… Let’s see. What can I tell you about myself. Well, my name is Melissa Brownie and I am from Chester, Virginia. A little town outside of Richmond, Virginia. I came to Morehead seven years ago to work on a degree in Mathematics and bowl. Yes, bowl. I have been bowling since I was 4. Some say I’m pretty good but I don’t like to brag. I received my Bachelors in Math Education in 2007 and I am currently working on my Masters in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Math. I am also a GA in the Professional Programs in Education Department. I also work for the Sylvan Learning Center in Richmond, Kentucky. I am a very busy person as you can tell. And to add to the list of things that I do, I also coach the women’s bowling team here at Morehead and tutor friends in Math whenever they need help. I’m really looking forward to this class and getting to know all of you. If there is anything else you would like to know, feel free to ask.

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