#10: Crack the Code

When using Excel in the classroom, I would most obviously be using Excel for grading, but I would like to be able to record hard data to measure the improvement of my students success -- perhaps by benchmarks or grades -- so that I could adequately present my productivity as an instructor. As an educational tool, I may use it to record data of student feedback. Perhaps a survey on our reading material for a High School literature course, which is my ideal situation.

In a recent review of classroom blogs, it has become more clear that what they think is most interesting, comes across the platform as being most interesting. A post about dogs? Love it. Your artwork? Love it. Organization in the classroom? If you're passionate about it, I will be too. The effectiveness of a post is in direct relation to a blogger's interest in the subject.

My next technology-related skill would be coding! I would love to learn more about it, and I am challenged by the fact that kids currently know more about it than I do! I would like to explore it as an outlet and see how it could be useful in the classroom later.

#9: Life is not a game, but PowerPoint is.

The Flipped classroom is one of my favorite models of education. It sets students up for independent learning, while leveling the playing field for homework. I like that all students have an equal opportunity to receive help on their assignments, as well as offers an extremely efficient system for both students and teachers. Saving time is so crucial for teachers.

Here is a YouTube video that explains the concepts well:

Recently completing the PowerPoint assignments have been quite the challenge... I didn't realize how much I did not know! Just for the first assignment alone I learned about finding different templates as well as the Master slide... which, there is still much to be discovered there. However, I felt that the assignment was a strong foundation for exploring within PowerPoint. (Plus, I liked that mine was pretty! The colors are so dramatic!)

Our second, interactive, assignment was considerably more creative, but, the interactive aspect makes it more challenging for me. However, I like the idea of having games in our classroom to solidify themes and ideas. I loved them as a student and would enjoy using them as a teacher.

FICTION, FICTION, READ ALL ABOUT IT. (Class Survey!)

Fiction Novel Genre Survey

#8: In Full Bloom

Touring the Florida State Lab of Assistive Technology was really an eye-opening experience. Upon watching and engaging with the different technologies, my personal favorite was the Smart Pen. The utility of being able to record voice, sync it with writing, be able to electronically store all of that information... It is an EXCELLENT resource for students and an effective way to positively influence student success. I can see where having that type of utility would be awesome for students without learning needs, but having them available for students who do need them is a wonderful resource to Florida State and I'm glad we're able to support students in that manner.


On a different topic, we've been exploring PowerPoint functions, and it's easy to see how the Microsoft application can be a vehicle for Bloom's Taxonomy.

PowerPoint facilitates the intersection of all of the aspects of Bloom's Taxonomy. Absorbing the information starts at the "Remembering" stage, but then is understood, applied, analyzed, and evaluated within the process of creating information. For a student to be able to create a PowerPoint on information, they would have to first fulfill all of the other aspects of the taxonomy, then produce the final work. 

After reading an article called 10 Ways to Stay on top of Emerging Technologies by TechRepublic, the most effective I felt was find a technophile. With resources like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, it's getting easier and easier to find people who are passionate about technology. Linking up with these people and watching their patterns would give one the insight to be able to stay up-to-date and aware of what's going on in the technology world. As in ways to integrate it into the classroom, I would bet there are professional teachers who also double as technophiles, or, this would be an opportunity for teachers to collaborate and get out their own creative hats! 

Education Integration: ILP#2

For this project, I chose to complete a Lynda on something that wasn't just something that I wanted to learn more about, but also something that has heavily influenced my productivity at school -- the Google Suite. I've been familiar with the Suite for several years now, but despite my vague familiarity, I hadn't really seen what all it has to offer until this year, being in the Educational Technology course, and then even with the learn -as-you-go environment, I was hoping this Lynda course would acquaint me with some aspects of the Suite that I hadn't learned yet. and, update: it did. I didn't realize the countless options for organizing and searching files. These options include photos being organized by the people in them, and being able to "star" items across multiple types of files. Google Docs is an ideal platform for collaboration and great for classroom use. However, I did feel that the collaborative aspect was not hit on as much as it should have been in the video. HERE is a link to the Lynda tutorial.

I chose to do the Prezi again because in my last one, I noticed there were some concepts I would like to improve on. Particularly, the clarity and comprehensiveness of the presentation. Using it again gave me the opportunity to improve. I felt like it was an effective form to display the information given because it could read like an instruction manual, but considerably less boring. HERE is the link to the Prezi.

DIIGO: We all need a little help sometimes.

In this week's Diigo activity, I learned about the assistive technology and various ways that technology can assist ESE, ELL, and ESOL students. In fact, much of the technology that we are acquainted with and use readily now started with being a form of assistive technology. Assistive technology can range from a PowerPoint presentation to touchscreen technology; many forms are useful to the learner.

DIIGO: It's An Application, My Dear Watson.

Through our Diigo activity, it gave room to think about the "business" side of being an educator, and exposed me to apps that can help in that business. I was really impressed by the PowerSchool application, if used properly it can quickly serve as a one-stop-shop for much of the businessy side of being a teacher. I thought that it's interface was impressive and seemed to be easy to use; as a future educator it may be something I try one day.