My Reaction to Did You Know 2.0

I just finished watching Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod's video Did You Know 2.0. It is an amazing video that every American should see because it is filled with so much information that I never knew or even thought of such as all college graduates from India in 2006 can speak English.
This video shows how change happens over a relatively short period of time and everyone must adapt to it, even educators.

It explains how fast technology is developing and how things are changing around the world. These things will not only effect adults but the children in our society who need to be prepared through education for these changes. With other countries surpassing the United States in education, we need to keep up with the change and prepare students for the future such as offering students access to the most current technology.

Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide

As I mentioned in the Alabama Learning Exchange post, another state program to enhance education is Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide, also known as ACCESS. In some rural or low-income areas, schools cannot offer classes such as advanced placement courses, advanced diploma courses, and some electives such as foreign language classes. Through online courses, interactive videoconferencing, and hybrid courses, ACCESS allows all public high school students the opportunity to take courses not available at their schools.


All three ways of taking courses are just as effective as learning in a normal classroom setting, meet state standards, and are taught by certified teachers. Online courses are taken during the school day and allow students to be taught coursework through the Internet. Interactive videoconferencing is a way to connect two or more classrooms from different schools through video and audio connections as shown in this picture. A hybrid course is a combination of two types of classes. For instance, a student can take a class which is a combination of an online class and a class in a regular classroom setting.

For students to be enrolled in these courses, they have to see their school guidance counselor first to see if they qualify for classes offered through ACCESS such as the advanced placement classes. Also, these courses are best for students who are computer literate, comfortable asking questions or for help, and who are independent learners. Along with the classes, there is software available for students to use for certain classes such as the ChemLab which offers lab simulations.

By offering classes that some students would normally not be able to take, ACCESS is an excellent program which allows all high school students in Alabama the opportunity to have the same quality education. I went to a high school in Mississippi, and I took a calculus course through interactive videoconferencing. The class was just as effective as a normal classroom setting, and it also allowed the students in my class to interact with students from another high school.

Alabama Learning Exchange

The Alabama Learning Exchange, called ALEX for short, is a fairly new program which allows teachers to post and share their lesson plans. Once teachers set up an ALEX account, they can use their personal workspace to create lesson plans using the template provided and store them for future use. Also, teachers can submit their lesson plans to be shared with other instructors throughout Alabama. Once their lesson plans have been submitted, they have to be approved before being posted for other teachers to view.

Other than providing lesson plans and personal workspace for teachers of all grades and subjects, ALEX also provides web links that are useful to teachers, administrators, and students. There are many sites listed that provide services such as an online translator, plans for dealing with school crises, and online projects for teachers to use. Students have access to sites that aim to reinforce what they have learned at school through online activities and games. Also, information is available about programs for teachers and administrators to improve their leadership skills and how to receive grants and awards offered to educators, and there is also a link to the Alabama Virtual Library which gives Alabama citizens access to library resources once they obtain an Alabama Virtual Library card.

Another state program that enriches education amongst Alabama's youth is Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide, known as ACCESS for short. This program is excellent for schools with limited course offerings such as advanced placement and certain elective classes. These courses can be offered as online classes or Interactive Videoconferencing, which is when one teacher is linked to one or more classrooms at other schools through video. Students who are good candidates for these courses are those who are computer literate, comfortable asking questions or for help, and independent learners.

After finding all this information very interesting, I hope Mississippi has similar programs for teachers. After I graduate from USA, I plan on getting my Mississippi Teaching License so I can teach in my hometown of Lucedale or in neighboring cities. However, I think ALEX and ACCESS are excellent programs that will improve the quality of education for every student in Alabama and will also open teachers to new and more effective teaching styles and techniques.

First Post

This is my favorite website to buy children's clothes from.

My name is Melissa Zebracki, and I'm from Lucedale, Mississippi. This is my first semester at the University of South Alabama, and I'm enjoying it so far. After completing my Associates degree this past December, I transferred to USA from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Honestly, I was very nervous about the transition from a community college to an university, but so far everything has been great.

I am an Education major and would like to teach high school English once I complete my degree here at USA. I'm kind of following in my mother's footsteps because she's a teacher. I love kids, and I think teaching is an excellent career choice for me.

Other than attending school, I am also a full-time mom. I have two children, Olivia and Mikel. Olivia, who we call Livie, is four and a half and can't wait to start school. She's a typical girl who loves baby dolls and going to dance class on Thursdays. Mikel, on the other hand, only worries about playing with his cars, trucks, and trains. He loves anything with wheels especially Thomas the Tank Engine.

On the weekends, and if I have a babysitter, I like to hang out with my friends. I like going to the movies, playing cards, and singing karaoke, even though I can't sing! LOL! Last Saturday night I went bowling with my sister and brother-in-law. Although my highest score was only 102, I had a lot of fun.