Course Reflection

            During this course, I have learned a numerous of things. I have learned the NET-S standards for teachers which are what students should be able to do. I learned how to create a blogger and upload blogs on it as well as how to upload an assignment on turnitin.com, which is an online site that discovers whether the work you write is yours or not. I learned how to create a concept map using inspirations, how to create a movie, how to use tools from the web, how to use Google as an online learning community, how to change things for students with disabilities using assistive technology as well as how to create a teacher web page. Overall, I enjoyed each and every assignment because they each taught me something I did not know. I am now well acquainted with a computer and how to use its different features.

I would not categorize any of the assignments as a weak or strong point because they each taught me something I did not know beforehand. I feel that I grasped each assignment very well and did not encounter any major problems. I feel that from every assignment I took something away in which I would incorporate into my future classroom. I would integrate technology by having the students do similar assignments that were given in class. For example, I could have my students create a concept map on two characters and then write a compare and contrast paper on the characters. After they complete the writing activity, they could upload the assignment on turnitin.com to see how turnitin detect when they have plagiarized. Another way I could integrate technology is if I have students who have hearing impairments, visual impairments, and so on. I could change the settings on the computer so the students could also participate when it comes to technology as well. I could also integrate technology by having the student create a movie that contains pictures of them as a baby until the present. It would be like a timeline and show how times consistently change over time.

Overall, this class has been very beneficial to my educational experience. I have even used rubistar to create a rubric for another one of my classes. Without this class, I would have never known this website existed. I will continue to use the information I have learned throughout this course in my everyday life as well as in my future classroom. In conclusion, this class has better prepared me for my classroom in using technology, and I will continue to use it throughout college and in the future.

Web Page Blog

              Creating a webpage has taught me a lot about the many different resources that are available to teachers. I learned that gmail.com has many different options available that can be used as a tool for teachers. From this assignment, I learned about different clip art websites and banner websites and also how to attach them to my webpage. I also  I learned that creating a web page is an easy task that can serves as a big purpose when it comes to your classroom and also the viewing of others. Creating this webpage brought out the creativity that I thought I did not possess. Overall, the creation of this page has resulted into a finished product that is professional as well as useful to my career.

                I did not encounter any problems while completing the assignment.  The instructions were explained very clearly and concisely.

                This topic could be integrated into future by having the students create a web page of their own about their future career. They will have to provide different information that is formulated by their teacher according to their field. This opportunity will get the students familiar with how to actually make a web page and also bring out the creativity in the students.

                The NETS-T standard that best fits this assignment is design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments. The standard allows one to incorporate digital tools to promote creativity as well as student learning. The assignment requires one to design their own web page so therefore they will have to be creative and think about what it is they would like to do and also the students are learning how to access different sites to find banners, clip art, and etc. The standard involves setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning as well as assessing it. With the assignment, the students have to think professionally about their webpage because it would be for the public to view it. They would be learning about all the different components that make up a web page and also checking the page frequently to update it, which requires students to assess their site.

To see the web page I created, click here.

Assistive Technology Blog

          I learned from the assistive technology assignment that students with disabilities were also provided a way to use technology that would increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. I learn that there are many way that students who have hearing, visually, and who are mobility impaired could be adapted while using a computer. For example, you could change the display to a high contrast extra large scheme, magnifier, toggle keys, alert flashes, and so on.

            I did not encounter any problems while navigating through this activity. It was fairly easy as well as interesting while completing it. The instructor provided well written instructions to follow in order to complete the assignment.    

            I could integrate this knowledge if I were to have a student who had some type of disability. I would be well aware of some options that I could perform to accommodate my student(s). For example, I could display an on screen keyboard to assist a student who has a physical impairment and uses a pointer to access the computer.

            Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility would be the NETS-T standard that would best fit this assignment. This standard addresses the diverse needs of all learners by using a learner centered strategy and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources. This assignment allows student with disabilities to also have a opportunity to participate and use digital tools as well to learn. This opportunity will allow the students to interact socially with their peers and not feel left out of the activity.

To see the assistive technology powerpoint I created, click here.
 

Web Tools Blog

           From the web tools assignment, I learned how to create a rubric, wordle, story, and track. I did not know it was so simple to make a rubric and that there were websites that could actually guide you to make your own rubric. I found that be very interesting. I found the wordle, story, and track to be interesting as well because I did not know these things could be created. I learned that were tools that I could access online that would benefit me in the future.

            One problem that I encountered was with the story. I started my story in the classroom, but when I got home to complete my story, I found that it did not save and that I had to start over completely. Lucky enough, I wrote the story down before I started so I was able to retrieve the information and complete my assignment before its due date.

            One way I could integrate web tools in future teaching by creating a checklist so that the students could use to check off the required components of each assignment before it is time to turn it in to make sure they have all that is required. I would use the other tools as well to differentiate instruction so that each student learning style is met.

            Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity is the NETS-T standard that best fit this assignment. This standard focuses on creativity and exploring real world issues while using a digital tool. This standard requires students to think and plan out information and then present it in a that uses technology. The assignment required one to use the computer and online web tools to create a rubric, wordle, track, and story. The assignment required one to be creative, think, and plan out what it was that they wanted to do and say but also created an environment where they were actually learning as well.

To see the rubric I created, click here.
To see the wordle I created, click here.
To see the story I created, click here.
To see the track I created, click here.

                       

Google Group Blog

           From the Google group assignment, I learned how to create a group where the group and I could collaborate to engage in a discussion, create a story together where each person had a part in the story to create that could be shared using Google drive, and also the opportunity to make a powerpoint using Google..This assignment also taught me how to arrange information where others could or could edit it as well as whether or not I wanted only group members to see it or if I wanted it viewed publicly.

            I did not encounter any problems with this assignment. It was fairly easy and self explanatory. The instructions were well organized and presented in a way that was easy to follow and understand.

            I could integrate Google groups in the future by having the students create a group where they will have to communicate via email and through a story to complete an assignment. This will help students get the feel of group work and come together as one to make a group decision.

            The NETS-T standard that would best fit this assignment would be design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments. This standard involves learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning as well as an environment where students pursue their own individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress. This assignment was designed where students had to create a beginning, middle, and end of a story at their own rate using their own ideas as well as participating in a group to complete this task successfully. This assignment was also organized in a way where a student had to create their own presentation in which they had to make a choice of what they would write about and what pace they would work to complete the activity.

To see the Powerepoint I created, click here.

My Movie Blog

From the my movie assignment, I learned that a story could be told by using photographs as well as a few words to tell a story. This assignment made me aware that I could add sound as well as I was telling a story. I learned that a movie does not have to be an hour or two long to tell a story or have meaning. It could be two to three minutes where a single picture can tell a story.

            One problem I encountered was trying to find a way to time my pictures just right so that the right words would appear above the right picture. The resolution to the problem was stretching out the length of time that the pictures were supposed to actually appear.

            I can integrate this knowledge into future teaching by having the students to make a movie so that I could become more familiar with something that is important to them, get to know them as a person as well as their likes and dislikes. This would be a different way of expressing themselves and finding out more about to students and their background.

            The NETS-T standard that would best fit this assignment would be model digital-age work and learning. This standard involves communicating relevant information and ideas using a digital format. This assignment involved using multimedia and pictures to organize a movie to tell a story that was relevant and important to the student. This standard involves showing how to use technology in a way that also promotes learning.

To see the movie I created with pictures, click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwFsYBdycqI

Turnitin Assignment

From the turnitin assignment, I learned that if you are not careful, it is easy to plagiarize even when it is not your intentions. Even summarizing something someone else wrote is considered plagiarizing because those were not your initial thoughts. To be on the safe side any time you use someone else’s work, cite it. That is the best most useful thing I can take from this assignment.

I did not encounter any problems while completing this assignment. The turnitin assignment sheet that was given by the instructor was very informing and guided me through the assignment with no problems. Also, the website was very easy to navigate through. I think that was because I was already familiar with turnitin before now.

I can relate this in a future lesson by having the students to submit all their writing assignments through turnitin. This will insure that the students are coming up with their own ideas and not passing someone else’s work as their own. The students would then be familiar with turnitin for future classes as well.

The NETS-T standard that best fit this assignment is the one that promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility. This standard involves the use of digital information and technology and also the appropriate documentation of sources. The turnitin assignment involved the use of technology and information being uploaded to the computer. The website detects whether or not sources are cited properly; so by completing this assignment, it shows what happens and the percentage when they are not cited properly and then guide you into the correct way of completing the assignment successfully and also what it should look like when you have not plagiarized.
 
To see the turnitin assignment I create, click here.

Concept Map reflection

                From the concept mapping assignment, I learned numerous of things. I was introduced to the program called inspiration which allows you to create a map of your choice. I learned how to navigate through the program as well. I learned how to change the font, size and color. I also learned how to insert images, shapes, and subtopics. I was taught also how to create a hyper link to a website and how to put notes that may be important on the concept map as well. I also learned that the program will place information into an outline format based on the information you enter when creating the map, web, or diagram of your choice.

                I did not encounter any problems with the program or the steps that it took to complete the assignments. Everything was really simple, and with the guidance of the instructor, she made it easy to follow and complete.

                I can integrate the use of technology in this program in future lessons by getting the students to create compare/contrast maps, problem and solution maps, cause and effect maps, sequence maps, and etc. on information that I will present to the students. This would be an organized way in which the students can become familiar with the content. The students would have an opportunity to use creativity as well as hands on instead of the paper and pencil type of instruction.

                A few NETS-S standards that will go with this assignment would be the creativity and innovation standards because we created our own chart which represented our way of thinking. Another standard would be the communication and collaboration standard. We talked about our ideas to each other while also receiving knowledge from our peers. Another standard would be research and information fluency. We had to use the internet as a source to gather the information that we needed in order to complete the assignment and used and organized it in a systematic way. The last standard that would fit this assignment is technology operations and concepts because we had to know how to use the technology that was presented to us and navigate through it effectively.


To see the concept map I created, click here.

All about me...

Hello all,

         My name is Alexis Robinson. I am from Waynesboro, MS. I am an Elementary Education major with an endorsement in Mathematics. I am a Lucky Day Scholar here at the University of Southern Mississippi, and I am also a newlywed. One reason for the portfolio is for an assignment for class. Another reason is to keep up with all the information from now until the end of the semester to measure my level of progression throughout the course. This portfolio will also allow me to upload information for others to see and comment if they wish. This portfolio will also assist me in meeting the NETS-T standards.