Final Reflection!

Before taking this class, I was not very familiar with technology at all! I used to hate even getting onto computers. However, my whole perspective has changed. I have learned so many different ways to incorporate technology into my future classroom. I’m honestly so thankful I had the opportunity to take this course. I barely know how to work computers; however, I have learned how to use technology through several different ways now. I have also learned how to accommodate all kinds of students, which will help me out so much once I have my own classroom!

                I believe my strong points are creating movies, Powerpoints, websites, and working with Kidspiration. I feel like I am most creative when working with those four projects. I feel like I enjoy these projects the most because I find them more exciting. I feel comfortable when working on these projects; they just seem easier to navigate and more exciting to use. I think these programs were easier to work with. My weak points would be connecting all of the standards to each project. I have a very hard time thinking about what each project relates to. I feel like I might have to dig into the standards more; this way I can be sure to incorporate them all in my classroom. I would make sure to study all of the standards and be sure to include every one of the standards into my projects throughout the year. I want to be able to introduce my students to a lot of technology based projects. Therefore, I want to make sure I am completely familiar with each standard.

                This course has helped me out so much! All of the assignments throughout the course have honestly made me more excited to begin teaching! The projects have definitely given me a better idea of how to bring in all of the different projects into my classroom.  For each assignment I give my students, I plan on making sure some kind of technology is involved. I think the Kidspiration project would be a great idea for my students! I think the program is very kid-friendly; therefore, I think my students would have a lot of fun! I also think I would assign my students a Powerpoint project at some point throughout the year; I think assigning the project would be a great way for them to become familiar with researching and also using the program. I believe I will be using many of the different strategies I have learned throughout this class!

Assistive Technology Assignment!

This project showed me that there are several ways to assist students with disabilities. There are several different ways to alter computer settings in order to assist each person. To make changes, I went to the control panel and clicked " accessibility". I first adjusted the contrast on the computer screen to help students with visual impairments. The background was black with a bright text. Next, I went in and magnified the text to assist students who had visual impairments. This accommodate allows the students to be able to view the text larger. I learned how to turn on toggle keys and how to incorporate visual alternatives to sounds; all of these were adjusted through the control panel. At the end of the assignment, I found several neat sound and image websites to incorporate at the end of my power point.  This assignment showed me several different ways to accommodate all kinds of students. This assignments follows the NETS-T Standards: 3. Model Digital Age Work and Learning D) model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support resources and learning. By knowing how to locate and effectively make  use of computer setting adjustments, teachers are supporting learning styles of all kinds of students with disabilities.

Google Website!

Google Websites is a free and easy way to produce a website. This website can be adjusted to fit anyone's preferences. This can be used to keep parents and students informed of anything going on in the classroom. Parents can be notified with activities and projects that are upcoming.  I created a classroom calendar that allows the parents to look and see all of the upcoming dates. I added my email address to every single page; this allows parents to contact me if they are unsure of anything. I created a page that addresses all of my awards and academic achievements. I placed a picture on my personal page and gave a brief introduction of myself. This website is great tool to use to keep any parents and students informed. The website has almost anything and everything the parent would need to know! This assignment follows NETS-T-standards: 3. Model Digital Age Work and Learning. 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.
My Classroom Website!

Google Groups!

Google Groups is a great way to communicate and share information with public or private members. Google groups is free and very simple to use! Google groups allows you to add people into a group, and everyone in the group receives an email inviting them into the group. After, any member of the group can view or edit any of the shared information. Google Groups can be used by students, as well as teachers. Students can use it to share their work with a teacher or work in groups with classmate to complete assignments or projects. Classmates can easily share a document they created and anyone in the group can add onto the material someone else has posted, or the other classmates that are in the shared document can edit or adjust the pre-existing information. Students or teachers have the ability to create the group for school related organizations as well. Teachers can use Google Groups to share class information with the students and parents. This is a great tool to share information! This project follows the NETS-T- Standards: 3. Model Digital Age Work and collaborate with students, peers, parents, family members using digital tools and resources to assist student success and innovation. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1cdPELVsPaH0ptqhVqqNHz3DkNGgFLwzPYoC1DfGHUn4/edit?ts=5704a712#slide=id.p

Windows Movie Maker!

This assignment required the creation of a video using Windows Movie Maker, which is a free Microsoft program. The video had to be at least ten slides based on a central theme, and the video also had to display a title slide and an ending slide. I decided to make my video based off of a trip my brother took to the Smokey Mountains this past January. I chose my favorite pictures based off the trip and I also selected a song that seemed to fit my project. Through the process of creating my movie, I had to figure out how to convert a song off the internet and insert it into my slides. I had to set each picture to five seconds in order to maintain a time of around two minutes. The only problem I encountered was trying to figure out how to convert the music. However, after a few tries, I was able to figure out the process of converting my music. I honestly enjoyed doing this project and it has easily been my favorite! I loved picking out the pictures, music, and the whole process of creating the movie. Windows Movie Maker aligns with all of the NETS-T standards.
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity. Windows Movie Maker promotes very creative thinking. Students are able to create all kinds of movies.
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments. Windows Movie Maker is a technology based program that is very fun for all students.
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning: Windows Movie Maker can be used for several different classroom purposes.
4) Promote and Model- Digital Citizenship and Responsibility: Windows Movie Maker allows  for teachers to demonstrate their knowledge of the Fair Use Laws by having permission to use pictures, music, etc. It is important to review over the entire movie before making the post.
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership. Windows Movie Maker can be used to help students explore by exploring topics to use in their movie. It is each individuals responsibility  to think of their own ideas to create their movie.

Web Tools!

Through completing my assignment, Web Tools, I was able to learn how to create a big variety of activities for my future students to engage in. I learned how to create crosswords, rubrics, word sets, tests from my word sets,and also finding worksheets to match certain lessons I teach. I created a rubric through using the website http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php. This website had a good variety of items I could place in a rubric.I used four items in my rubric that were already displayed through the website; however, I also created my own standard students had to follow. Through using http://quizlet.com I was able to create a word set and test. My word set and test was on elements of fiction. I used http://abcteach.com to find a worksheet that I could use for students to work on hand writing skills. However, this website allowed me to be able to easily find all types of worksheets. Using http://eclipsecrossword.com I was able to create a crossword for my students. My crossword is a way for students to learn the elements of fiction, but also have fun. I used http:wordle.net to create a wordle of the terms I used on my elements of fiction. The second NETS-T standard was used through this project: design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments. I used all the different websites to create activities and worksheets my future students could use. All the activities are very customized and used to promote student learning through digital tools.

Turn It In!

TurnItIn is a program that is used to find plagiarism. I have learned that once a paper is submitted through the program, a percentage appears; this percentage is created by searching the net to see if it matches up with any information on the net. For this assignment, the first part required us to copy and paste information off of websites that were already provided to us. By doing the first part of the assignment, I was able to understand how TurnItIn works. The next part of the assignment was for us to actually go through the websites and summarize the information. I learned how to put information into my own words to ensure I would not have a high score on TurnItIn.  I also learned a lot about gender bias issues involving computer science. While doing the report, I struggled trying to make sure my work did not match up to any information on the reports or websites. However, I summarized the information and used ideas from a variety of sites, making sure to use my own words. As a teacher, I can use TurnItIn with a lot of my assignments. By enforcing my students to turn their work in through TurnItin, I could easily enforce them to do their own work and not cheat. The TurnItIn assignment involved four of the NETS-T standards. Through this assignment the first standard was used: to facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. This standard is reflected through the TurnItIn process because students have to take information that they think is important to the assignment and use their own words. The second standard the assignment meets is to model digital-age work and learning. To ensure, students fully understand the requirements, teachers have to show them how to use TurnItin. To promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility is reflected because the students have to produce their own work. Also, TurnItIn requires students to engage in professional growth and leadership. Through using TurnItIn, students must do the research on their own and turn it into their own words. This allows the students to really think and grow in their ability to write and use the program.

Cloud Concept Map

            Through the creation of my concept map, I have learned every little detail involved during the process of forming my cloud project. I chose to make a cloud concept map. The lesson taught me how to work with the Kidspiration software and design an educational map. I learned how to form topics, subtopics, text notes, and text links. I also learned how to make the concept map flow together using specific colors, shapes, and texts. I did run across the problem of not being sure on how to change my background color. However, I searched the internet and I found a guide that took me step by step to solve my issue. As a teacher, I can definitely see myself using a concept map not only to introduce new lessons, but also for my students to create projects with. I believe introducing a lesson with a concept map brings an easier understanding of the material for students. The concept map is a project that keeps students interested and entertained. Creating the concept map falls under a variety of the NETS-T standards: The concept map applies to standard one because it allows it me to promote student learning and creativity. Standard two allows all diverse needs of students to be met. Through standard three, digital tools and technology are used to enhance student’s knowledge. Standard four shows how the concept map is a way to transfer educational knowledge to all students. The map is also a way to model how current digital tools can be used. Standard four is incorporated through the production of the concept map. The creation of the map enabled me to demonstrate safe, acceptable technology use.

NETS-T

                        Teachers use ISTE to teach and improve student's learning abilities, advance in professional practice, and set forth positive images for students, teachers, and the community.

 I received this information from this site: http://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards/standards-for-teachers 

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Introduction

Hello everyone! My name is Natalie; however, I am also known as Nat, Natalia, and Natty-cakes. I attend The University of Southern Mississippi and I am obtaining a degree in Elementary Education. I am from Pascagoula, Mississippi and I work at a gym. After graduation, I would like to teach first grade. I do not really have any interest in teaching the upper elementary grades. I have endorsements in English, so I could have the choice to teach English. I could possibly see myself teaching high school English one day and maybe coaching a soccer team. However, I do not ever want to teach middle school. I think I could best handle the young children or the older teenage children. I am not exactly sure where I want to teach when I finish school. If I stayed on the coast, I would prefer teaching in Biloxi or Ocean Springs. However, I really love to travel, so then again I could also see myself hours away from the coast. I guess I will just have to take my career path one step at a time. I am so excited to learn through all of my teacher program courses. I can not wait to have my own classroom one day!