Week 2

In case you have never heard of Alabama's Learning Exchange (ALEX) I am going to explain what it is and how it is helpful to students. ALEX is Alabama's educational interactive web portal. ALEX offers courses of study in mathematics, social studies, science, and English language arts, just to name a few. ALEX also includes a lesson plan section where teachers can submit lesson plans or they can view lesson plans of other teachers. As I prepare to enter the school system, I believe that ALEX will be a wonderful tool that I can use to learn the most affective way to teach a subject, or just look at other teachers lesson plans to see how other teachers are teaching there students.It has a professional workspace and also a professional learning section that is used to find professional development opportunities such as teaching and learning tools,the best practices and more. I found the web link section of ALEX to be neat. It has a section for teachers, administrators, and students. Under the student tab it has a list of subjects that the students can research. Under each subject it has web links that the students can explore, they can do practice math problems, science projects, or they can play learning games. ALEX can be accessed by teachers, students, school leaders, and parents from Alabama or around the world. This is a good site for parents to visit and get assignments for their children to do during the summer. ALEX is a wonderful resource that can help children excel in school.
Alabama connecting classrooms, educators, and students statewide (ACCESS) provides opportunities for students statewide to engage in courses with multimedia content, interactive video conferencing(IVC), courses with two-way audio and video with both web-based and IVC components. ACCESS provides a distance learning option that is opening doors for Alabama students. ACCCESS allows students to take online classes through video conferencing, this allows more students to have access to advanced placement and other courses that might not be available at their schools. Governor Bob Riley, and the state superintendent of education Joe Morton announced that all 371 high schools in Alabama will have distance learning (ACCESS) in the 2009 school year, which is one year ahead of scheldule. ACCESS is a great program that will help advance students in school because they will have the opportunity to take advanced placement classes and possibly earn college credits. With ACCESS students will be able to start college their freshman year with classes behind them and get out of college into the work force faster.
The Alabama virtual library is another resource that the state of Alabama offers. AVL provides students, teachers, and residents of Alabama essential library information resources. It has databases of online magazines, journal and newspaper articles. AVL can be accessed from home, public school campuses, or any public library in the state of Alabama. In order to access the AVL at home, you have to get a AVL card from any public library in the state of Alabama. These 3 resources, ACCESS, ALEX, and ALV are all helping give Alabama students the opportunities and education that they deserve. With these resources Alabama students can raise the bar of excellence.

Getting to know me!

Hey everyone! I am Jessica McIlwain a sophomore here at USA! I am a transfer student from Faulkner State Community College, so this is my second day of school at South. I haven't had the best two days of my life but I hope I will like it more after I get adjusted. I am an elementary education major in hopes of one day teaching the 1st or 2nd grade. I love kids very much and can't wait to get into the classroom!

I work at Mobile Surgery Center where I am a business office clerk. Basically I file charts, get patient charts ready for the next day, do medical records, op notes and anything else that they find for me to do. I have worked there for two years now and I have to say it is a pretty good job most of the time.

I am originally from Silas, AL which is in Choctaw County. I graduated in 2006 from Millry High School. I moved to Mobile in June of 2006 and started at Faulkner State that fall. I couldn't wait to leave that small, small town, but the longer I am in Mobile the more I can't wait to get back!

I am 20 years old and live with my cousin and a friend of mine in a town house behind the Academy Sports and Outdoors. I am the oldest of two girls. My sister is one of my best friends. She is on the dance team at Millry High School and I try my best to never miss a game. I have been dating a guy for 6 years now and he recently moved to Troy, AL to finish his degree. I love to spend time with my family and friends. I am a Grey's Anatomy freak! I never miss a show!