Blogfolio

1. Intro Video

This assignment is aligned with the NETT standard 5a, which calls for teachers to be engaged in learning communities. This assignment required us to begin a blog that would connect us to the online teaching world. It required us to join the community by introducing ourselves, and many of us included our teaching experiences and goals in that introduction.
I think this was a worthwhile assignment mostly because it gave us an opportunity to get to know w little bit about our classmates. We will be working with each other for the next couple of years, and it was good to learn a little bit about each other. It was also useful for teaching us how to post videos to the internet. Some of my professors now post short lectures online we can watch in addition to what we learn in class if we so choose. I think this is a useful skill for teachers to have because it is a good way to share information for student enrichment.

2. Concept Map

This assignment is aligned with standard 1a, which calls for teachers to model creativity and inventiveness. Using a concept map causes the teacher and student to look at the information presented in a new way. This assignment also is aligned with standard two, which calls for teachers to provide diverse ways of presenting information and using digital tools, and standard three which requires teachers to transfer knowledge via new technology. This assignment required us to use technology to present information in a unique way that would engage students in our lessons. I think this assignment was especially useful because concept maps work for any subject area or grade level. They can be useful for almost any lesson and are a good skill for teachers to have.

3. Website

This assignment also in in line with five, which requires teachers to be engaged in online learning communities. Most people used this assignment as an opportunity to create web pages for their future classrooms that will help them keep parents informed and connected to what is happening inside the class. I also liked the versatility of this assignment. It is useful in the field of education, but it is also a good skill to have for any field. Some people chose to make websites for their church classrooms or other things they are interested in. This is a skill that we have and will be able to use in and out of the classroom.

4. Video

This assignment is aligned with standard 2c, which calls for teachers to present information in a variety of digital formats, and standard 3, which requires teachers to communicate information using new technologies. This assignment taught us to present technology in a unique, efficient, and creative way using movie making technology. This assignment was my favorite for a few reasons. This assignment provided us the best opportunity to see what is important in the lives of our classmates. I think this assignment was the best for getting to know the other people in our class. I also enjoyed the versatility of this assignment. As proved by the diverse videos shown in class, the skills used for this assignment can be applied to absolutely any topic.

5.  Turn It In/ Ethical Issues

This assignment is aligned with standard three, which requires teachers to use digital tools to collaborate and share information. Turnitin.com is a website that allows people to share their assignments through a digital platform that will make sure the information and ideas presented are original. It is more closely aligned with standard four, which calls for responsible digital citizenship. It requires teachers to model ethical use of technology and to promote digital etiquette. I think this assignment was worthwhile because of the two fold purpose of the assignment. I think if the assignment only existed to teach us how to use turnitin, it would have been a waste of time. Because we learned about the website by writing an essay on digital citizenship, I think we learned not only about ethical web-tools but also about digital etiquette and ethical dilemmas that exist on the web.

6. Google Groups

This assignment is aligned with standard five, which requires teachers to be a part of a community of digital learning. This assignment required us to work together by collaborating over the internet. It is also aligned with standard two, which requires teachers to present information through a variety of digital formats.  I think this assignment was especially fun and informative. We learned to present information though a google group, docs, and presentation. We learned lots of skills through this one assignment, but it was not overwhelming.

7. Web Tools

This assignment is aligned with standards two and three, which require teachers to use up to date digital assessments for their students and to demonstrate fluency in technology systems. I think this assignment was useful, but I was not able to access all the necessary websites. I think the ideas are good in theory, but I was not able to see them in practice. I know, though, that as a teacher it will be important to have aids for creating organized quizzes and rubrics.


Reflection on Course as a Whole

I was pleasantly surprised by this class. I have always considered myself to be technologically challenged, and I have never been very excited about new technology. I know that technology is important in the modern classroom, but I want to teach in places in the world that probably will not allow my students access to the latest technology or even things we might consider basic technology. Though I understood that a knowledge of classroom technology was important as a teacher, I did not think it would be of much use for me under the circumstances in which I am looking to teach. Because of my original attitude towards technology, I did not expect to enjoy this class very much. I was surprised to find the class to be very enjoyable and that much of what I learned I will probably be able to apply in the future. Even though I am not gifted in the area of technology, I learned that it is not hard to learn to use technology if I am open to it and try. There are lots of tools we used in class that I had not used before and am able to use with ease. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that almost all of what we learned simply involved a computer and internet access. We did learn about new tools in classroom technology, but not having access to these tools does not mean a teacher is limited to never use technology. Though many schools in developing parts of the world do not have the means to bring in technology for their students, I will be able to use a personal laptop in most places. Over the summer, the school I where I taught did not have technology more advanced than a dry-erase board, but there were lots of internet cafes, and we were able to use our computers as teachers. Because so much of what we learned in this class simply involves a computer and the internet, it will be easier for me to apply this knowledge in most parts of the world. I am thankful for what I learned in this class and think this course was more than worthwhile. It changed my mind about technology and I believe prepared me to be a better teacher in the future.