Final Course Reflection

Throughout the course of the semester I have learned quite a few things. I am not really all that into technology other than using the internet and Power Point and Microsoft Word. It just is not something that has ever interested me. I have learned how to upload a youtube video, create a blog, make a website, and how to make changes to settings in order to accommodate for students with disabilities. This may not seem all that wonderful to you, but for me this is a huge accomplishment I can assure you.

My strongest point, when it comes to the use of technology, has to be the use of a digital camera or an ipod and downloading it onto the computer. I am also really good with anything that has to do with Microsoft Word. My weak points are knowing where settings are to make changes to the computer for those who need it. I am familiar with changing font size and color but when it comes to things such as sticky keys I am lost. I would really love to use those options more often so that I can be prepared when I have a student who may need these accommodations. I am always open to learning new things especially if it will help someone out.

I want to be a teacher, so the things we have learned in this class can help me tremendously. In a perfect world, I will have enough computers in my classroom for all to use and the use of a StarBoard as well so all of the students can see. I can also make rubrics, worksheets, concept maps, quizzes and puzzles using technology. I can have the students participate in making these as well. I also hope that I can incorporate the things I have learned to make accommodations for those using technology in my classroom as well.

Artifacts with links

blog

http://maddieacomputereducation.blogspot.com/

online quiz

http://www.classmarker.com/teacher/edit_test.php?test_id=173457

Web Site

https://sites.google.com/site/maddieallenit365/

photostory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTRiDs8oiNw

Assistive Technology

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B0mXOP-KA5J1ZjAyZTJiZTYtYTNlNC00YzRiLTg3MDEtMGE5Y2Y2OGNkNTcy&hl=en

Concept Mapping

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B0mXOP-KA5J1ZWEwNmM5Y2YtZDY2Ny00NWQ5LWEzN2EtM2ZmYTRlZjljOTMw&hl=en&authkey=CNnm2rEM

Ruberic

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B0mXOP-KA5J1NDZhMzU0YTUtY2ExNi00YTcwLWI3NTEtM2Q0YTc3MDk3YzU5&hl=en&authkey=COb98ZgI

Word Search Puzzle

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B0mXOP-KA5J1MzRkY2U3NjAtYmY2Ni00ZDVjLWI5MGItNmZhMmQyMWZkMWJi&hl=en&authkey=CNyV5_cK

Online Worksheet

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B0mXOP-KA5J1YmQzNTNhYzktYTA3ZC00ZTE0LThkOWYtYzEzZjlhNGJlNjE4&hl=en&authkey=CJnv5K0J

Turnitin

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B0mXOP-KA5J1NDg4MTliYmYtYjk5MS00ODhiLThhZmUtOWI1YzdjYTg2OGRi&hl=en

NETS Standard 5

5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers:

a.	participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.
b.	exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others.
c.	evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning.
d.	contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community.

This is a standard I think we all can say we have or should have included in our assignments throughout the semester. All of our assignments have tested our knowledge and professionalism and we have all grown professionally. Learning about all of these uses of technologies is a great way to start the journey to professional growth and leadership. I think that this blog as a whole (including the blogfolio) has helped us all grow as students already. This is something that we as teachers need to strive for in the future. Technology offers many ways to get involved in your community and learn about the resources that are around you to use in your classrooms. We, as teachers, can get students involved in community projects that will allow them to engage in professional growth and leadership and they can get others involved at home as well. The use of research broadens content knowledge and raises awareness in the community and outside of the community as well. I plan on using all of my community resources and technology to teach my students to help them become stronger leaders in the future.

NETS Standard 4

4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers:

a.	advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources.
b.	address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources.
c.	promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.
d.	develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools.

There is so much information on the computer these days that it is almost impossible not to find information that you are using. You have to be really careful not to steal passages or ideas or materials from sites that are not open to the public. When we did an assignment for Turnitin we had to make make sure that the information was not plagiarized or it would alert the paper. Also, when making the youtube video we had to make sure the sounds and the music was retrieved from a site that allowed free access to those who used them. Some sites are not free and do not allow words, pictures, or sounds to be used. This standard also applies to my website and assistive technology assignments. It would be a good idea to go over sites that are available to free pictures and sounds as well as talk to the students about plagiarism and how to avoid that. There are ways to detect plagiarism from the internet using Turnitin or by typing phrases in Google. Using your own pictures and sounds is a good way to avoid crossing boundaries.

NETS Standard 3

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:

a.	demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.
b.	collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.
c.	communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats.
d.	model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.

I do not have a lot of experience modeling digital-age work and learning. The work that I have done digitally is all from this class with the exception of the use of power point. The things that have been modeled to me and done in an assignment include the blog, website, photostory, and parts of the concept mapping. We were able to collaborate with our peers and use resources to support success and innovation. We did have individual assignments but were able to work together and learn from one another. Since I am not very familiar with a lot of technology, it benefitted me to see a model and learn from my peers. I learned about a lot of tools and creative ideas that I would have never known to use unless I had the support from my teacher and classmates that I had. This will be good to remember in the future. I will model for my students what I want from them and what the assignment should look like in the end. Some things that use technology that students are not familiar with will need to be worked on together and modeled step by step in some cases.  Ideas and content can be further learned if the students are able to work by a model and have the opportunity to share and collaborate with one another.

NETS Standard 2

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a.	design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
b.	develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.
c.	customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.
d.	provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.

I have always enjoyed designing and working on things that require the use of technology. I believe that technology is the future and more and more things are leaning towards the use of digital-age learning experiences. As a future teacher, I think that this is really important to implement and can make assignments and assessments of the assignments easier and more organized. If schools have the funds to do so, it would benefit all teachers to use digital-age learning experiences and assessments. Assignments such as web tools, rubric, online quiz, worksheet, puzzle, and youtube video all fall under this standard. I had to use technology to design my concept map as well as use the web for the information that was contained in that. The rubric and the online quiz were both created online and can be assessed digitally. The youtube video was designed using digital tools for the photos that promoted creativity. The use of a microphone to display auditory messages promote student learning. I will use this in the future when it comes to assigning any projects to my students. In the future, I can use digital assessments for all of the projects as well as use online tools to have the students fill in information they know. I can use online tools to accommodate for each student because each student has different styles and personalities and possess different levels of knowledge. The photostory assignment is a really good assignment to allow students to use digital-age technology to display their creativity and knowledge of content.

NETS Standard 1

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:

a.	promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.
b.	engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.
c.	promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.
d.	model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.

This standard targets the creativity portion of using technology. There are so many things that can be done using technology that the possibilities are endless. There are creative ways to use technology such as virtual tours for those who have little background knowledge. Students are able to explore content that would never be attainable without technology. Students are interested in the use of technology so this is a great tool to use to get students interested in lessons and excited to participate. The blog that we had to create shows a little bit of my creativity using the layout and colors as well as my knowledge of certain subjects. It also shows a little bit about me and makes it personal. Through this blog we are able to communicate with other students and colleagues in a virtual environment to gain ideas and information from one another. Photostory is another assignment that is included in this standard. I used digital pictures and creative ways to change the appearance of pictures to place in a video. We used real life concepts and events to make our videos as well as true information for a learning resource. To finish this project, we had to think, plan, and creatively process. The online quiz required inventiveness using tools and resources. Other artifacts that are included in this NETS standard are concept mapping and assistive technology assignments. Both included knowledge of content as well as a great deal of creativity to make it engaging and appealing to make it easier for students to learn. Creativity includes the use of materials that can be useful for those with disabilities as well.