(1) ILP "Participation" - MOOC

During this particular Independent Learning Project, I decided to participate in a MOOC, which stands for Massive Open Online Course. MOOCs are free and vary in duration and topic. I did a lot of searching to be able to find a decent MOOC that didn't take over a month to complete, and still had an interesting topic. After what felt like forever, I finally came across a website that had hundreds of different MOOCs to choose from. This website is Class Central, and it led me to a different website that held my "Learn How to Play Chess" MOOC.  I have never played chess before in my life, and I thought "hey why not learn now". Turns out it is a lot more complicated than I was expecting it to be! This course was really cool because they gave you quizzes after every section to ensure you knew the information. The quizzes were very helpful and awesome! There were different paths you were able to take, and I decided to take the "Getting Started" path since I am very much a beginner! You need an account in order to participate in this MOOC.

Here are some of my notes from my MOOC!

#10 - I guess all things do come to an end :/

I hope to teach either 2nd grade or 4th grade one day and I think I will use Data Collection regarding scores in reading and math. I know that schools sometimes require teachers to record their students reading scores so that they can be placed in a certain reading level. I would hope to collect this data in order to track the students progress regarding reading comprehension. Collecting data for mathematics may be harder to track, but I would use that data to track not only the students progress, but potential weaknesses in different areas of math. Doing this will help me when working one on one with the students and when giving them extra problems to work on.

While taking Intro to Educational Technology, we as a class have had to read and respond to each others blog posts each week. I enjoyed doing this because I was able to get a different perspective on the different topics that we were reviewing for class that day. I always enjoyed feedback from other students, whether it was positive or not! I found it interesting how everyone put their own twist into the design of the layout of their blogs. Lastly, I really loved seeing the different things we learned to do in class, laid out in each of the blogs.

The next technology-related skill that I would like to learn wouldn't necessarily be a new skill but to learn how to refine this skill: Photoshop. In my weebly website I had mentioned that I really enjoy photography and taking pictures. I currently have minimal prior knowledge regarding Photoshop, but I hope to master this technology-related skill one day. After doing my first ILP on Lynda.com, I decided to browse the website for any Photoshop tutorials and I found several. I know when the time comes when I need to learn how to use Photoshop more efficiently, I will use Lynda.com to refine those skills.

Favorite Music Survey

https://fsu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9n10e8vckBkXbvf

#9 - Flip. That. Classroom.

"The Flipped Classroom" is a great and innovative way for teachers to deliver their lessons earlier to students prior to the classroom meeting time. The gist of this teaching technique is explained by
"rather than students using the time in their classrooms listening to a teacher lecture on content and then working with that content for homework, in this model, the student listens to prerecorded video lectures for homework before coming to class" (Lever-Duffy, McDonald, 238). I personally find this technique to be an awesome tool for students of all ages. I know as a student, I love working ahead and being prepared for a lesson prior to being taught the material. I have learned that the information is retained a lot better than if I were to just show up to the class with no prior knowledge. As an elementary education major, I would love to instill this technique with my students at a young age because I believe it will be beneficial for students.

On the topic of "open content" and "open sources", I was able to come across a website that helped explain the difference between these concepts.  "The terms "open content" and "open educational resources" describe any copyrightable work (traditionally excluding software, which is described by other terms like "open source") that is licensed in a manner that provides users with free and perpetual permission to engage in the 5R activities". Another interesting thing that this website mentioned was "Legal requirements and restrictions make open content and OER less open"; this paragraph discusses how although it is considered open, it still has its restrictions regarding licensing and use.

While working on the Powerpoint Information Dissemination assignment, I learned some really awesome and new skills! I don't know if I would necessarily use every skill that I had learned from this project in the future, but I have gotten a lot more comfortable with Powerpoint. I found the use of the Master Slide was the most frustrating, and confusing aspect of this assignment. I honestly don't know if I even used it correctly, but I don't know if I will use it in the future. For the specific grade I hope to teach, I don't think I would use Powerpoint for lecture slides, but more for the game that awe had to do as well. I personally hate recording my voice and I think that was the absolute worse part about this project. Other than that, the project was somewhat tedious at times, but I was able to finish it out with a "Best in Show" badge! Below is a screenshot of my Powerpoint Information Dissemination Assignment!

10 Basics of Slidemaking

10 BASICS OF SLIDEMAKING from Sadman Sadik

This particular Slideshare brings it back to the simplicity of slidemaking; there are several pointers that revolve around the CRAP principles we learned about in class. I personally liked the slide that said to use minimalist icons rather than clip art! It made sense to me because sometimes clip art can be too distracting.

#8 - Mind Games

This past week we were given the opportunity to visit the Sports Psychology Lab located in the Stone Building. There were all sorts of different technologies here that they use with student athletes to work on the psychological aspect of sports. I have personally used the Dynavision system before, which is basically a giant black box that has buttons arranged in a circular pattern, then the buttons would light up and the goal is to hit the button as soon as it lights up. There were several other tools that we were able to work with during our visit. I don't know if I would necessarily use any of these tools in my classroom, considering I am hoping to be a general education teacher. I feel as though special education teachers would have  more use out of these tools from the sports psychology lab.

I would use PowerPoint in order to describe Bloom's Taxonomy to support student learning at each level of the taxonomy. The order of Bloom's Taxonomy goes as such, remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating. I feel as though making a PowerPoint will support all of the levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. It will help with remembering, only if the students have access to the PowerPoint after the fact so they can review the material and remember it. The presentation will help with understanding, applying, analyzing, and evaluating the material, based on what is in the PowerPoint. Usually the information that is given in PowerPoints, is the information that is the most important to the lesson, allowing it to be applied  elsewhere.

Image found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/21847073@N05/5857112597 

 

 

I came across an article filled website that was jam-packed with different technology trends! There was just so much to look at, I couldn't decide where to look first. This website would be a perfect place for anyone to come and check out the latest and greatest in the Technology world! Click the picture below to visit the website!

 

 

#7 - Assistive Technologies for Diverse Learners

Assistive technologies are used in several different ways to support learners of different abilities. These technologies are mainly used for students who are under the categories of physically challenged, has learning issues, or is gifted (Lever-Duffy, McDonald, 67). There are specific areas of content regarding technology that support special needs in those areas (Lever-Duffy, McDonald, 67). There is a wide range of resources for diverse learners to use in order to learn to the best of their ability. Some examples would be recorded books, which is when a recording of a person reading the book aloud is made (Lever-Duffy, McDonald, 71), high-interest low-level vocabulary books, which "assist students by providing interesting content but at a reading level consistent with their current abilities" (Lever-Duffy, McDonald, 73) and many other options. I know in elementary school, we were given certain level books based off of our scores on reading tests so that we could read in our reading level. There were some students in my class that were reading at a lower-level than the rest of the class, but I don't know if those books were considered "high-interest low-level vocabulary" books. Some challenges with using adaptive technologies in my classroom would be, accidentally singling out those children with certain disabilities, disregarding some students who may not have a disability (whether it be physical or a learning) but still struggle with some problems in school.

I have used Weebly in the past for my senior year portfolio in high school. In all honestly, I wasn't the biggest fan of this particular "Create Your Own Website", when I used it in high school, and I have to say I am still not the biggest fan. I just find it difficult to get used to the different tools on this website. There are some things that I do really like about this medium, but if I could, I would choose a different website to use. I think it's hard to customize easily using weebly, and it's hard to edit as well. I  know that I did enjoy the option to upload your own photos for headers! That made it possible to give it my own personal touch. I know that in my future classroom, I will for sure use a classroom page or blog, and this assignment has gotten me more comfortable with the idea! I may not necessarily use Weebly, but I know I will have a class page. Here is a screenshot of my Web Page! Click on the picture to be brought directly to the website!

Diigo is one of the more applicable websites I have learned about in Educational Technology. I know that in the future, I would most definitely use this learning tool, whether it's with my students or my fellow teachers. Since I am hoping to teach in elementary school, I feel as though I would use Diigo with my colleagues, rather than my students. Diigo is a great way to peer review sources to use within your classroom and I know that I would love feedback from fellow teachers about whether or not I should use certain sources, games, or criteria within the classroom.