Grouping for Google

For this assignment, we were assigned to groups and these were our designated Google Groups. We were to come up with names for our group and create discussions on technology topics for the classroom and create a short story together on Google Docs. Our group decided to be called the Eagle Know Nots and that we would create a story about a reputation of a group of girls that had our group name. The story was quite entertaining and with it, we learned a lot about Google Docs and how it works. After we were finished with this part of the assignment were to created a presentation of about 4 or 5 slides on the Google version of PowerPoint. I found this part to be easiest because the set up was very similar to Microsoft Office PowerPoint. I did not find myself to have any weaknesses on this assignment because I found it very simple. This assignment was supposed to meet NETS Goals 1, 2, 4, and 5. I think this project definitely met NETS Goal 1, Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity because everyone in our group had to find some creativity to create our story together.  NETS Goal 2 Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments was met as well because we created presentations on line that could be used to in our classroom that would definitely enhance the learning experience through technology. NETS Goal 4, Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility was met because we were very responsible in the way we answered our questions with each other online, giving our professional opinion and responding to other opinions in a responsible way. NETS Goal 5, Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership was met because we had to take on leadership in giving our input while in our groups and working together as future teachers. If you would like to read our story you can do that here and if you would like to view my presentation I made in Google version of PowerPoint, you can do that here.

Using Web Tools

In this assignment, we were to use online web tools to create a rubric, a quiz, and a track of files for our potential students to look at. The quiz and rubric were based off an assignment we would make from our previous concept maps. Since my concept map was on great white sharks, I composed a quiz on that species and also created a rubric for my imaginary students oral presentations as well. For this presentation, I had a hard time finding reliable sites to create for my track. I kept running into problems there but once I found a couple of good teaching sites I found it easier to navigate. I also had a little trouble with creating my rubric on Rubistar.com. The problem I found there, is that I seemed to having a hard time finding the wording for what I was going to be grading my potential students on. I found the more I worked with the actual program that it gave good examples to help me find how I should word my columns. This assignment was supposed to meet NETS Goals 2, Model Digital-Age Work and Learning Design and NETS Goal 3, Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments. I think it did meet NET Goal 2 because it did involve having the students using digital ways of learning through the Tracks assignment as well as having the online rubric reference. This assignment definitely met NETS Goal 3 because the assessment that I created was online based. You can find my rubric here and my quiz here. If you would like to look at my tracks you can find them here.

Lights, Camera, Action!

For this assignment, we used Windows Movie Maker to form a video on our choice of topic. For my video, I decided to make a biography about myself and show a little bit about my life. We were to use all aspects of Windows Movie Maker such as adding music and video transitions, as well as using the editing process to give our videos the extra spark they needed. I did not have many difficulties with this project because I make YouTube videos all the time for my own personal channel and I often use Windows Movie Maker as my editing software of choice. In this assignment, we also learned about copyright infringement because we were allowed to use music from other sources and than copyright free ones. We learned about the time limits on songs and pictures and how to give credit to the owner of material we were using. This project met NET Goal 2, Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments because making a movie would be a great way for a class to learn about a new topic and would probably hold their interest more than just having a presentation orally. It also met NET Goal 3, Model Digital-Age Work and Learning because using a computer program to make a movie shows a digital way of learning.

Mapping a Concept

For this assignment, we were to make concept maps that described a subject that would be appropriate to study in a classroom setting. For my concept map, I chose the topic of Great White Sharks because they are my favorite animal and I find them quite interesting. I think this was an excellent assignment that taught me a lot about making concept maps. I have always been familiar with concept mapping and understood the process well but I had never had to make one on my own. The program we used to make the concepts maps was a program called Inspiration. I believe that it was a good program but was very touchy and sometimes repetitive, possibly outdated, to work with. In this assignment, most of the problems that I had happened because of the program such as detailing the project by making it physically appealing, but I found it is easy to work through by exploring the program further. I believe this would be an easy assignment to integrate into my future teacher career because concept maps have no boundaries. This assignment met NET goals 1: Facilitating and Inspiring Student Learning and Creativity because if a student was to create one on their own they would be able to use their creativity to pick subtopics and the topic of choice as well as make the concept map visually appealing and it also helps them learn because they are learning about a new subject when using concept maps. This assignment also met NET goal 2: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments because Inspiration is a program that is interactive for the student and allows them learn while experiencing a digital aspect of learning. This assignment also met NET goal 3: Model Digital-Age Work and Learning because a concept map on Inspiration is a digital platform for learning. If you would like to view my concept map you can find it here!