IT 365 Reflection

IT 365 has been quite an enjoyable class. I came into this class with a bad attitude thinking that I would not learn anything but I am leaving the class with so many new abilities when it comes to technology. If it were not for this class, I would not know how to use google groups or google documents, windows movie maker, web tools, or assistive technology. As mentioned before, I came into this class thinking I knew so much about computers but now I am leaving with a brand new respect for computers and technology.

because of this class, I now know how to integrate students with special needs into my class through using technology. I also know how to make  rubrics and quizzes. Among many other new skills, I know how to create a windows media story and how to create a blogfolio. All of these new skills are important to take with me to my future career.

As a future teacher, I can take these new skills such as making a website or google documents with me. All of the projects that we did will benefit me as a future teacher as well as my future students because I will be able to better teach the about computers and technology now that I better understand them. Even though I came into this class thinking I knew computers, I now can say I have a better understanding of technology and a better respect for technology and how I can implement technology into my future classroom.

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Chapters 9-12

During chapters 9-12 we learned about various technologies that will help support us in our future classrooms. These such tools are databases, spreadsheets, multimedia tools, and web authoring. All of these are very important concepts to learn for future teachers because we can apply this knowledge in our future classrooms.

Chapter 9:

Learning about databases was like learning about a foreign language. I was very unaware about this technology because I had never used this tool until I took the BTLE. Even though I struggled with learning this tool, I believe that this tool can be very useful in the classroom. I believe that teachers can use this for keeping up with students addresses, information, making reports and many more aspects to the classroom. Databases are also great tools for recording grades in the classroom.

Chapter 10:

Within chapter 10 we learned about spreadsheets. This tool is very similar to a database but is not as elaborate. Within spreadsheet, teachers and students can create graphs, charts, and also record grades. This chapter was very relevant to me as a future teacher because spreadsheets are very useful to future teachers and to students as well.

Chapter 11:

Throughout chapter 11 we learned about multimedia tools. I found this chapter to be very fascinating because within this chapter we learned to create a story through windows media. Multimedia tools also consist of power point, slide shows, movies, etc. These tools allow students to get a better feel of the subject and topic by getting a visual of what they are learning. These tools are a creative way for teachers to engage their students through technology and i will definitely use these tools in my future classroom.

Chapter 12:

Throughout chapter 12 we learned about web authoring. This lesson was extremely important to learn because teachers are more frequently using web sites to communicate with their parents. During this chapter we were able to create our own web site that was based on a future classroom setting. This gave me a great idea of how I want to set up my future classrooms website. I really enjoyed this chapter because I know I want to have a website to better communicate with my parents and now I know how to use a copyright, a title, and even a resource page.

assistive technology

During this weeks class we learned all about how to assist students with different forms of disabilities. I believe this was one of the most important lessons that we have learned about. We learned how to change  the accessibility on the computer for someone with hearing, vision, or mobility impairments. Personally, I never even knew these capabilities existed so I am very excited that I learned these tools. I also was able to change different settings on web sites, my keyboard, and speakers to better help someone who is disable. These tools are very important for someone that I might teach or know that is impaired in some way and might need the help that I could provide.

As a future teacher, I will be able to use these tools if needed in my future classroom. Being able to integrate students into your classroom that have a disability is key. A child with a disability already feels left out but if the child is not able to use the computer or see the tv, etc, then they feel even more left out then the other students. By learning these tools then I will be able to integrate each child without leaving anyone out.

Assistive Technology

turn it in

This week we learned how to use a program named Turn it in. Students are able to turn in their finished papers to this website for teachers to verify the students have not cheated. This program mainly allows teachers to check for plagiarism. Through this web program, teachers are able to check students writing assignments to the students resources to make sure the students are not plagiarizing. Also, students are not tempted to cheat or plagiarise because they know they will be checked with this program.

As a future teacher I believe I will use this program because it is a great source. Having the knowledge before hand if a student has cheated on an essay is a great tool. I also could see uses this program for myself to make sure I did not use to many similar words from resources. This program will also allow students to learn to paraphrase better because if a student does not paraphrase accurately then that will cause the turn it in program to pick up on plagiarism.

So in my future classes (and my present college courses) I will be able to use this program to prevent cheating and plagiarizing within the classroom.

Turn it in

Website

During this portion of class, we learned how to set up a website. Of course this web tool is an important learning tool because I am interested in setting up a class website for my future class. Within my website that I created, I made four different web pages. These pages consist of a home page, a course information page, an about me page, and then a resource page. These pages give details about the class, the teacher, and what the parents and students need to expect this year. I believe this project is a great learning tool because I will be doing something very similar to this in the future. Another reason I believe this project was important is because parents and students are able to log on at any time to view upcoming events or projects to see what the class has in store. Also if someone needs to get in contact with the teacher then there is a contact page and email right on the page. All of these things are important to learn for my future career as a teacher!

I believe that this lesson and project was important because using websites is a huge aspect in parent-teacher communication right now. Most parents are so busy with their own lives that they do not have time to set up conferences with the teacher. By setting up a website, the teacher has the ability to give the parents and students all of the subject information as well as his/her contact information. This is extremely important especially in the busy times that we live in now.

website revision

Movie Maker

During this lesson we learned how to make a story through movie maker. I found this lesson very fascinating because we can use this web tool in our future classrooms. During this lesson, we learned how to use information, audio, and pictures to make a movie. These movies can combine together to make an informational movie to use for fun or for a classroom. This tool can be used for so many things in my future in teaching a class. Also, through this web tool, I will be able to get the information about the lesson across in a fun and entertaining way.

Having the knowledge of this tool will bring a new light to any classroom. BEing able to put information in a story from, any class lecture will be brighter. By putting music, voice notes, and pictures and forming a video children are able to see a new version of facts that is different from their day-to-day lesson plans.

WIth all this being said, I will definitely be using movie maker in my future classroom because children will gain more from an interesting lecture because they will be listening and learning.

My Story

Concept Map

During this lesson, we learned how to create and use concept maps. Through a program named Inspiration, the class developed a full concept map that included graphics, text boxes, topics and subtopics. Having the ability to create concept maps is a great tool for a future teacher because concept maps can be used in the classroom. Students can use the concept maps that we make to get a visual representation of the lesson before and after each lecture.

I fully enjoyed this lecture and assignment because I know I will use this feature in my future classroom. Having the ability to make these concept maps into a hierarchy, bubble map, etc, allows students to better understand the topic. Also this program is a great tool because the children are able to see words with pictures with them linking together.

All in all this computer program is very helpful for teachers to guide their students through the lessons.Even though this project was difficult in the beginning I believe that I will use this in my future class. I was even able to use this program in my practicum for my first teaching experience as an education major. This just proves that learning about concept maps are important for teachers as well as students. By using concept maps, the students are able to see the connections between the topics through images and words which is very important for both the teachers and students.

Concept Map revision

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