Despite this incredible absence...

I have been doing a very poor job of keeping up with my assignments in EDTS200...  fortunately I am turning this all around and will be catching up and then some over the next couple of weeks.  If you can find it in you to accept my late assignments I promise you will not be disappointed in what you see.  I've been going through a bit of a rough patch in my life but that isn't an excuse for not doing my work.

Once I got so behind on my tasks I found it very hard to get back started.  Now that I'm getting into the swing of things, however, I look forward to finishing this semester strong.  Of course I will accept any penalties or demerits with the extreme nature of how late these assignments will be coming in but it will not stop me from trying my best to catch up and learn the programs and tools we've been covering in class.

It took me a while to really see how useful all of this material is, but even in the gymnasium or in the health room these lessons will help to make me a much better, more efficient teacher.  I used to think that it was silly for a physical education major to need to know how to use microsoft publisher or webquest...  but this information isn't only for the classroom, or to get a job.  These programs make it easy to formulate and communicate ideas in much more organized and pleasing fashions.

I would like to apologize to you specifically Dr. Hossain.  I didn't mean any disrespect by not keeping up with my assignments and I hope I haven't waited too long to try and set it right.

We'll be in touch soon, until then, take care...

Google Docs Lab

Using Google docs was a little strange at first, but only because it was much more simple than I thought it was going to be.  The documents automatically saved and are easily shared with my group with the click of a single button.  Collaborating on projects and assignments will be much easier when we can each edit documents from our own computers and put them together without having to send a lot of emails with different attachments.  Google docs was also a very easy format to adapt to; there were no complex arrangements of icons and folders and subcategories to fumble through.  I can easily see the benefits of using this program over any other alternative.  It saves time, enhances organization, and it's free!

Inspiration Concept Map

Concept Map of Wellness

Getting Going

Although I am still having trouble getting used to the new technology being introduced in this class, I am also getting more interested in refining my skills and being able to better represent my thoughts in these formats.  I have a long way to go to be sure.

My feelings toward technology are still mixed.  I have a full appreciation for what is possible and has been done with it all, but there are many things I don't see the need or use for.  Perhaps it's more the overuse or misuse of the technology we have at hand that bothers me moreso than the technology itself.  I am certainly more nature oriented but I will never slander the name of technology in order to promote a simpler way of life.  I think people need to stop thinking in black and white as far as nature versus technology is concerned.  There's a balance to everything...  

Introductions...

Hello!

My name is Dan Forest Gunn and this is the beginning of my blogging career.  I'm not the best with technology but I have a decent level of comfort with it.  My experience so far has been limited to the technology that is necessary for school and a few personal uses.  One of the only reasons I use extracurricular technology is for the managing and acquiring of new music.  I do a fair amount of personal research, as well, but for the most part I am not a very computer savvy.

I have never taken an online course but I can see the benefit of taking them, as well as a few disadvantages.  I like teaching myself material and having personal responsibility with reading and completing course work but there are times that direct instruction makes all the difference.  Sometimes the information sticks with me better when I have someone explaining it in person versus simply reading it myself.  But until I actually take an online course this is all still speculation.

I am a Health and Physical Education major and have chosen to be a teacher for several reasons.  The first of these reasons is that I am comfortable and pretty good with children of most ages.  I have some experience with working with kids and with dealing with a younger sister and many young cousins.  Working with family is easy though...   working at a kids camp in my home town was a whole other story.  But learning how to adapt to teaching multiple ages was a fun adventure for me and now I feel more confident with my decision to be a teacher.  I've always loved playing sports and games so Physical Education seemed like an easy choice, but there's more to it than fun and games.  Keeping students, and people in general for that matter, healthy and happy with themselves is also very important to me.  It's not hard to be active and enjoy getting exercise, but in today's society people (especially children) seem to see it as more and more of a chore or a hassle than a way to stay fit and healthy and have fun at the same time.  Teaching the importance of an active, healthy lifestyle without making it seem like torture is a big part of why I'd like to be a teacher.

I'm originally from Oregon but I've been living on the east coast for quite a while now.  I do intend on living out west again someday but most of my family is here in Pennsylvania and I don't want to be too far away while they are growing up or declining in years.  I have every intention of traveling the world in my spare time as a teacher and will do everything I need to to ensure that this dream comes true.  Next summer I'll be living and working in Alaska in order to finish paying for school and I can't wait to be in the wild again.