Google Groups:
I was some-what introduced with google groups in another class last year, but the teacher just assumed that we all knew how to work it so he did not really go over it, but thankfully someone in my group knew how to use it. Even then I still struggled with it. I think it is important to know how to use it, because it does make it easier to keep in contact with your group and I think that it would be beneficial in classroom projects. In this project there was a “manager” that created, monitored the group and invited others to join it. I think that this is a good way to share news, and to tell others any ideas that we may have and to receive feedback. It was however, difficult to figure out where to answer the questions that each group member asked, I know that I ended up putting my answers in two or three different areas several times, because I was not sure where to put it. It was less confusing when others started to answer the questions, but we kind of figured it out all together. I still think that it should be explained better though, or it should just be more clear in the application; this was the main issue I had with this project. These are the reasons why I think that standard 5b, among others, applies to this project. it says, “Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others.” I think that this can apply to students whether they are the “manager” of the project , or not.
*This is apart of Google Groups, because I got the section for Google Tools and Web Tools mixed up, but I didn’t want to cut it.
I think this projects helps me to meet the NETS-T standards. I think that the NETS-T standard 2a applies to this particular project, “design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity,” because with this project we used digital tools through google to accomplish the assignments, such as google slides and google documents. Which I have a little bit of experience with google documents through a class my freshman year, but we only used it once for out final group research paper and it did make it easier communicating with each other and writing it together and even at the same time made easier to be time efficient with the paper. I also was able to use my knowledge of google slides in another class this semester and it also made contacting the group easier and it was easier to work on the project at the same time without having to stop, save it and then email it to each other. I found this very helpful and I wish I had known about it earlier. However, if we did not have much experience with using these google applications then it was slightly confusing and difficult to set it up, but once we got it started it was easier. It made me feel better that I was not the only one learning how to do this and we figured out different things together; I think that it made us work together as a group.
Web Page:
Most of my teacher’s in the past did not have webpages, but I am see now how useful they can be if they are updated regularly. I also though it would be difficult to create a website and I am sure there are more sophisticated programs to use than the simple one that Google Site Creator provides, but I think that for my first attempt at creating a website for my future classroom went well. When I first saw this project on the syllabus I panicked a little bit internally, but as we started creating it, I realized it was not as hard as I though it would be. I can also see how they would be beneficial to the parents and the students, but I can also see how they could be frustrating to them as well if they are not updated. I really enjoyed this project in particular, because even though everything that we have learned and done in this class will help me in the future when I am teaching, this is the first time since I have started school that I am getting close to achieving my dream and it has helped me to push forward during this semester. This is why I think this project applies to NETS-T standard 3b, among others, “Collaborate with students, peers, parents and community members using digital tools and resources to support students success and innovation.” I know we were only suppose to put one standard that we think applies to the project, but I think that this one goes with it as well, especially with the we resources page of the website. The standard 3c. says, “communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats.
Web Tools:
Throughout my time in school I have always wondered about rubrics, how they are made, what are teacher thought process when they create them, etc. I know not every teacher uses “RubiStar”, but I am glad that I know about it, I did not think it would have that must variation of classes, but it did. I will have to remember that when I become a teacher. I also that the “BigBus TestMaker" was very interesting and I can assume that it must simplify the precess of creating a test. I did not like that with this website you can not create a test that is more than ten questions, but you can create more than one if the test needs to be longer, it was just a little bit of a hassle, but I can understand why it had to be longer. It was frustrating when I was trying to post it to the blog, I had to redo the test then re post it to the blog, but I think it is, because I am still learning about technology and it will no be as difficult next time if I have to do it. Even though I think that “Kahoot” could be beneficial to students and I think that it is clever, it was slightly confusing, because I was not exactly sure what it was when I was trying to create the survey and discussion. I do think it was very interactive and creative, and I think that students would respond well to it, because of this. It was just a little confusing when I was trying to make the survey and discussion, but I think if I use it a few more times like I have with SurveyMonkey.com I will get the hang of it. I still think it is a good website to know of for the future. What I have said in this paragraph is why I think that the NETS-T standard 2b, among other, can apply to this project. It says, “develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participant sin setting their own education goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.”
My Movie Story:
I did not of the program Windows Movie Maker and that it comes with the windows XP operating system before this assignment, I think it is very neat and convenient. At some points however it was confusing and difficult to use, adding my pictures I did not have much difficulty and I did not have an problem getting an MP3 file from a song on youtube, and then applying it to my movie, but I know others did. I know there were a lot more effects in the program that I used, and should have probably used, but I did not just play around with it enough. Overall I think it was good for not having to pay for it like other programs that I found when I was trying to make something similar for my mom’s wedding. I like how we could make a movie about anything that we wanted to as long as it was personal to use; I think it brought out everyone’s creativity and we got to know each other a little more. I think the NETS-T standard that applies to this project is 1a, “promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.”
Introduction Video:
I do not like to talk about myself and I think this is on the reason why I struggled with the introduction video and writing the blog post, but I do understand why we have to do it. I think it is important for my future students, parents, and peers know who I am and I will have to talk to the parents. I think that this kind of set the tone for me for the rest of the semester, because from the start I was learning something knew. I was not sure how to take a video from my phone and put it on the computer to be honest and then upload it to a blog. So technology has really been challenging, but in a good way. Even though I know I have already used this standard I think that the NETS-T standard 1a, among others, applies to this one as well. It says, “promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness,” I think it applies to this project, because I think and feel like we were sporting each each other when we were making these videos and we were learning new things about each other and I know that my partner was supportive. It turns out we knew each from when we both took dance when we were in elementary school, but we had not seen each other since. I also think that standard 1d could also apply, because of what I have said throughout this paragraph. It says, “model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.”
Concept Map:
Before this class I did not have much experience with concept maps and the last time I remember having them in a classroom was when I was in elementary school. I forgot how much fun they were to look at and I think especially kindergarten through middle schools they can be very beneficial and keep the students engaged. I like how it provides the option of adding links to videos and how you could either use the images that they have on the program, or download others from the internet. It was however, kind of confusing when I first started to create my concept map and it took me awhile to figure out how to delete something, but the more I played around with the program I figured things out. I think that standard 1c, among others, from NETS-T standard applies to this project, “promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, and creative processes,” because it is requiring me to be creative in taking something that I am trying to teach my students and put it in a way that they will understand it, remember it and it keeps them active, or engaged in the lesson. I also think that since most concept maps are in the form of webs, trees, towers, etc. that they can see the process of what the teacher is trying to teach them and it can be easier for them to make connections between all of the facts that goes along with the lesson for that day.
Course Reflection:
I honestly did not think that this course would be the way it was this semester and I was really nervous and worried about this class. I am not good with technology and I do not understand it, but I was pleasantly surprised even on the first day of class. It made me feel better to know that the majority of the class did not understand a lot of technology either, despite what people say about my generation. I was not sure how I felt about the fact that all of assignment would be posted to our blogs, but throughout the semester I have learned that I really like it and I would consider using the idea in my classroom in the future, if I teach a grade that this would be appropriate for. I have learned a lot throughout this semester and I enjoyed it all, even the assignments that I did not want to do and the ones that challenged me, it was a good kind of challenging.
I am so glad I took this class, because I have learned a lot of valuable information that I will need to know in the future especially if schools continue to become more tech savvy, which I am sure they will. I did not use google that much in the past unless I was trying to search for something, I know now that I was doing that wrong, I had no idea of what all google has to offer. I wish I had known about all of this before now, but since I do now then I will incorporate it into the rest of my time at the University of Southern Mississippi and throughout my teaching career as well. I have learned that technology is not a bad thing, you just have to be careful with it and that it does take time to learn new things, but it has a lot to offer and it pays off in the long run to learn and understand it. I know we probably barely scratched the surface in this class, but I am not afraid as much as I use to be of the ever-changing technology.
There is always room for improvement and I know that there are some projects that were not my best for various reasons, but since I have a better understanding of what I am doing, I know now how to fix the problems and I know what is expected, the next time I use the programs it will be better. I get frustrated to easily when I have to use technology and I know I need to have patience and I think over this semester I have gotten better about this. I think I need to take some more time with the programs that we used this semester and just explore them and get to know more about them. Whether I like it, or not there is a lot of technology in schools now and if I don’t learn how to use it, then I will be left behind and it will probably hurt my career.
Even though I did not like standing in front of the class to present the projects I am glad we did, because the more I did it I became more comfortable and it wasn’t as hard to do towards the end of the semester. I understand why you asked us to do this and to use the smart board, I think you were trying to get us comfortable and acquainted with talking in front of a class, presenting projects, and using the smart board. I also realized how little I know about educational websites that my future students and their parents could benefit from and I need to change that, I need to expand my knowledge so I will be able to help my students as much as I can. Even though we used a variety of programs and websites, the projects usually seemed to be unified through the subject of technology in schools and I like how it was almost always incorporated in some way in each one. I have learned a lot this semester and I know that there is more to learn; I feel more comfortable now that I have an idea of how to access it and how to learn about it.
I am so glad I took this class, because I have learned a lot of valuable information that I will need to know in the future especially if schools continue to become more tech savvy, which I am sure they will. I did not use google that much in the past unless I was trying to search for something, I know now that I was doing that wrong, I had no idea of what all google has to offer. I wish I had known about all of this before now, but since I do now then I will incorporate it into the rest of my time at the University of Southern Mississippi and throughout my teaching career as well. I have learned that technology is not a bad thing, you just have to be careful with it and that it does take time to learn new things, but it has a lot to offer and it pays off in the long run to learn and understand it. I know we probably barely scratched the surface in this class, but I am not afraid as much as I use to be of the ever-changing technology.
There is always room for improvement and I know that there are some projects that were not my best for various reasons, but since I have a better understanding of what I am doing, I know now how to fix the problems and I know what is expected, the next time I use the programs it will be better. I get frustrated to easily when I have to use technology and I know I need to have patience and I think over this semester I have gotten better about this. I think I need to take some more time with the programs that we used this semester and just explore them and get to know more about them. Whether I like it, or not there is a lot of technology in schools now and if I don’t learn how to use it, then I will be left behind and it will probably hurt my career.
Even though I did not like standing in front of the class to present the projects I am glad we did, because the more I did it I became more comfortable and it wasn’t as hard to do towards the end of the semester. I understand why you asked us to do this and to use the smart board, I think you were trying to get us comfortable and acquainted with talking in front of a class, presenting projects, and using the smart board. I also realized how little I know about educational websites that my future students and their parents could benefit from and I need to change that, I need to expand my knowledge so I will be able to help my students as much as I can. Even though we used a variety of programs and websites, the projects usually seemed to be unified through the subject of technology in schools and I like how it was almost always incorporated in some way in each one. I have learned a lot this semester and I know that there is more to learn; I feel more comfortable now that I have an idea of how to access it and how to learn about it.
