Final thoughts

I learned a lot about technology this semester and how to integrate it into an elementary class setting. I think one of the most beneficial things I learned is how to create a class website. I think this is a very useful tool to keep parents, faculty, and administration informed about what is going on in your classroom. I also think that having a nice and professional website shows that you care about your presence as a teacher. I will use a website in my classroom. I will post homework assignments and notes about what is going on in class on the website. I think this is a good way to gain parent volunteers as well! This class was very worthwhile! Thanks!

VI reflection.

What did you gain from this unit and other units in terms of technology integration for middle schools? What would be your projection/prediction of 'technology integration' for middle schools in the next ten years?

I gained a lot from this unit. I think that I learned how important technology integration is for grades 6,7, and 8. I think with this age group, children need an outlet to express themselves and by having a way to integrate school and technology it proves to be very beneficial. My prediction for middle schools in the next ten years is that most of their work will be transferred to technology and less on paper. I think this is true for high school as well. I think more and more teachers and schools are shying away from traditional ways that we will see an outbreak of an all technology based middle and high schools.

Reflection 5

Reflect on how one or more of these sites have changed how you communicate, collaborate, view, create, and share information.

I am going to reflect on how Facebook has changed how I communicate, collaborate, view, create, and share information with others. Facebook is my favorite social networking site. I am only on a few social media sites. I have a Twitter, Vine, Facebook, and Instagram account. I have been a member of Facebook for the longest. I am able to communicate with friends and family all over the world. Before Facebook, it was hard to stay in touch with them before this, especially when it is hard to make phone calls and write letters due to school, work, and other commitments. Facebook also helps with collaboration. I use Facebook to help me with inviting friends to events and knowing when events are. It helps me stay connected and stay in touch. I would not remember many of my friends birthday's if it was not for Facebook! I also like using Facebook because it has a great way of keeping up with pictures that I didn't take. It is so much easier to just have the pictures you want access to on your computer rather than printing them off individually. I am thankful for this social media website and for technology!

Video reflection.

1. Reflect on your experience developing your multimedia video project. What new did you learn during this activity? I was very nervous at the idea of making a video. It sounded very complicated and I was unsure if I would be able to navigate my way through a website. Turns out, the resources you gave us helped tremendously. I actually enjoyed the project and making my animated video. It was funny the first one I made I did completely wrong and I finally found out how to edit it. I had my animated people doing all kinds of crazy movements! 
2. Talk briefly about how you would integrate multimedia into a lesson plan?  Share an activity or project (involving multimedia) that you think will engage and challenge students. I think a multimedia clip is a great introduction to a lesson. I think if I was planning my lesson, I would definitely show the clip or one similar to it that I made. I think it is a change of pace from just the teaching lecturing. Our children today are so technologically advanced that I believe they relate better to multimedia. 

Reflection 4B

1. Reflect on your experience developing your multimedia presentation using PowerPoint. What new did you learn during this activity? During the PowerPoint Presentation, I learned how to incorporate audio files. I think this is important because it spices up the Presentation and makes it fun, especially when you incorporate sounds that fit perfectly with the lesson you are teaching. 
2. Talk briefly about how you would integrate multimedia into a lesson plan?  I would integrate a multimedia lesson plan by definitely having a PowerPoint that goes along with my lesson. In the PowerPoint I can add videos, music, and pictures that enhance my lesson. Adding something extra to incorporate media helps students gain the information from many different points of view. 

Reflection 4A

1. Reflect on your experience developing your Integrated Lesson Plan. What new did you learn during this activity? I enjoyed making the Lesson Plan. I thought it was fun to explore the different websites that are out in the technology world. There are so many different ideas and ways to format lesson plans, it is fun to see some of the more creative methods. I learned that the formatting can be a million different ways and still not be considered wrong. I like this aspect.
2. Talk briefly about how you integrated a spreadsheet activity into a lesson plan? I incorporated a spreadsheet into my lesson plan by having the spreadsheet be a means of data collection. The children are to monitor three flowers over a six week period. Each flower will receive a different amount of water and the children will record the heights of each flower in the spreadsheet each day. Then the students will use the spreadsheet to compare all of the flower heights at the end of the unit.

Reflection 3 : Spreadsheet Reflection

1. To be honest, this is the first spread sheet I have made in years! I learned so many new features about MS Excel! I watched all of the tutorial videos that were uploaded on my class file. In every video, I gained loads of information about all of the cool things Excel can do!  I never knew that you could highlight to gain the totals of information. This is very helpful and saved me a lot of time and calculation when adding my final grades.  I would integrate many productivity tools into my lesson plans.  MS Excel could be integrated into a lesson plan by having the student find weekly averages and having the teacher tally them into a chart. This helps the children understand averages, means, and modes. An activity I think would engage children using a spreadsheet is a plant experiment. A plant would be monitored over a period of time and the height of the plant would be recorded in excel once a week. After the growth time was over, the totals could be added and then the data could be shared with the class. Sounds like a fun experiment to me :)

Reflection 2: Reflect On The Implications Blogging Has on Teaching and Learning.

     Reflection 2: Coming into this class, I saw that blogging was a requirement which made me a little nervous. I never really researched blogs myself until I was expected to make one for class. I was confused setting it up until I looked into the site a little more. I like designing the website and making it my own,unlike other sites (facebook, twitter) that have a set homepage and profile. I can already tell that having a blog will lead into my teaching career. I feel like blogging will be a way that my student's parents will be able to see what our classroom is up to. I think blogging can be as in depth or laid back as the blogger feels and I feel like parents will enjoy this feature. My students parents can use the blog to keep up to date on activities or schedules. Blogging will also have an impact on my students learning, especially if technology keeps advancing this rapidly. I think blogging is a great way to expand your thoughts and feelings without being judged or ridiculed which promotes optimal learning. 

Reflection 1 What Do I Expect To Gain From Class

     The instructional design of classroom's and school's has changed so rapidly from when I was in school! I remember feeling so privileged whenever we were allowed to go to computers or have computer lab time. Now, schools are equipped with Ipads, Macbooks, SmartBoards, etc... I think that technology greatly benefits educators and especially the students (when monitored correctly). 
     For reflection 1, I would like to learn a few things from this course. I teach myself many things on the computer to try and make my PowerPoint's  etc look more appealing and creative. I would most like to gain creative thinking from this course and how to see technology differently. I hope to get the most out of this class so I can have a greater impact on my classes once I am given the opportunity!