Final Reflection 5391
Well, this class has been very interesting and challenging. I am about a mid-level technology buff. I enjoy using technology in the classroom, but often struggle to incorporate it consistently. This class has shown me so many different options to use in the classroom. It also has inspired a new passion for me to continue finding more technology and applications that can be included in my classroom.
If I am honest, most of the visual and auditory applications were the most exciting for me to explore. Some things like Infographics, Cartoons & Comics, Screencasts, Instagram, and Flipgram were especially interesting to me. I think these were the most interesting to me because they are so applicable to my classroom and the students I serve. Since I teach middle school- my students are particularly visual. They love visual stimulation- all of the images they see on a daily basis and being able to create more visual interest in the classroom to engage the students better.
I also really liked the auditory applications like animoto and podcasting. I am a big fan of incoporating really interesting audiobooks. With these two applications, I think it gives more voice and seamless integration with books and voice. It could be podcasting about books, or creating book trailers. I think that these were some of my favorite. While I do think I felt uncomfortable at first with podcasting- the popularity of it and the ease of it made it easier as I kept trying.
Well I would say that I didn't really struggle in trying out any of the applications in the curriculum, but I did have to troubleshoot during a few of the assignments. I already mentioned that there was a bit of an uncomfortable feeling associated with the podcasting, but it got easier the longer I talked. I also had a big issue with screencasting because of memory on my personal computer. I had to trouble shoot for a couple of hours and have my husband (an engineer) help me figure out why I couldn't get more that 30 seconds of recording on this application. But I do think that this troubleshooting was particularly valuable to me- because now that I had to troubleshoot myself I know how to fix it for others in the future as a librarian. Overall, nearly all of the assignments were a pleasant experience.
I would say that out of all that we have experienced in this class the two I see as the most applicable to my classroom to benefit students would be Infographics and blogging.
Infographics are definitely beneficial to students because in most states (when looking at state testing) informational graphics and informational texts are normally the lowest scoring portions. Infographics are something that most students have seen before in media and social media that we can teach them the same concepts that they need for testing while having a direct application to their social lives etc. Then if they are able to take information (like we did with the research from the Pew Research website) then they have definitely mastered being able to read and interpret informational text.
Blogging is beneficial to students because it can give them a less formal writing output. Just like reading (or any other skill - playing football, baseball, swimming), writing needs practice. This will also allow the students to possibly have an outlet for their interests along with their classroom related content. This can be used in nearly all classroom content- they can create research blog posts for science, they can write out how to solve a specific math proof, etc. I also think that since this is an output (application and creation) it would benefit the students more than a medium in which a teacher can show them. They have to use self discovery and trial and error to become successful at it- just like we did.
Thank you for Reading. I don't think there is one application that we tried in this class that I would not suggest to another colleague or student (and be able to help them with it if they choose to use it). That I think is the most valuable part of this class.
Which technology we have studied in class made me most excited?
If I am honest, most of the visual and auditory applications were the most exciting for me to explore. Some things like Infographics, Cartoons & Comics, Screencasts, Instagram, and Flipgram were especially interesting to me. I think these were the most interesting to me because they are so applicable to my classroom and the students I serve. Since I teach middle school- my students are particularly visual. They love visual stimulation- all of the images they see on a daily basis and being able to create more visual interest in the classroom to engage the students better.
I also really liked the auditory applications like animoto and podcasting. I am a big fan of incoporating really interesting audiobooks. With these two applications, I think it gives more voice and seamless integration with books and voice. It could be podcasting about books, or creating book trailers. I think that these were some of my favorite. While I do think I felt uncomfortable at first with podcasting- the popularity of it and the ease of it made it easier as I kept trying.
Which applications were the most difficult for me?
Well I would say that I didn't really struggle in trying out any of the applications in the curriculum, but I did have to troubleshoot during a few of the assignments. I already mentioned that there was a bit of an uncomfortable feeling associated with the podcasting, but it got easier the longer I talked. I also had a big issue with screencasting because of memory on my personal computer. I had to trouble shoot for a couple of hours and have my husband (an engineer) help me figure out why I couldn't get more that 30 seconds of recording on this application. But I do think that this troubleshooting was particularly valuable to me- because now that I had to troubleshoot myself I know how to fix it for others in the future as a librarian. Overall, nearly all of the assignments were a pleasant experience.
Which one will most benefit students?
I would say that out of all that we have experienced in this class the two I see as the most applicable to my classroom to benefit students would be Infographics and blogging.Infographics are definitely beneficial to students because in most states (when looking at state testing) informational graphics and informational texts are normally the lowest scoring portions. Infographics are something that most students have seen before in media and social media that we can teach them the same concepts that they need for testing while having a direct application to their social lives etc. Then if they are able to take information (like we did with the research from the Pew Research website) then they have definitely mastered being able to read and interpret informational text.
Blogging is beneficial to students because it can give them a less formal writing output. Just like reading (or any other skill - playing football, baseball, swimming), writing needs practice. This will also allow the students to possibly have an outlet for their interests along with their classroom related content. This can be used in nearly all classroom content- they can create research blog posts for science, they can write out how to solve a specific math proof, etc. I also think that since this is an output (application and creation) it would benefit the students more than a medium in which a teacher can show them. They have to use self discovery and trial and error to become successful at it- just like we did.
Thank you for Reading. I don't think there is one application that we tried in this class that I would not suggest to another colleague or student (and be able to help them with it if they choose to use it). That I think is the most valuable part of this class.
Kaitlyn,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed using Animoto as well. I plan to become an elementary school librarian and I can really see myself using Animoto with my students to create book trailers. My big takeaway from this course was the importance of having the school library's presence on social media and also sites like YouTube. There is so much you can do with students and I am excited to share with others what I have learned!
Becky Sandner
I also did not really struggle with any of the tools. My main issues were troubleshooting also. I just could not get my very short podcast to upload on to the sites. I later discovered that my router is not working properly. Having a tool bag of technology tools to share with teachers and students is great, but remembering that the content that we want our students to learn comes first. Finding the best pairing is were the library specialist steps in during the lesson planning process to help teachers to find the best tools.
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