ILP #2 Design

For my second Independent Learning Project, I decided to create a Prezi presentation.  Prezi is a great website for creating presentations that are outside of the box, really creative, and deviate from regular PowerPoint presentations.  On Prezi, you can manipulate how the slides move across the screen as well as any twists and turns they make take.  I believe that Prezi presentations help to keep audiences engaged and attentive.  I did my Prezi on the causes of World War I.
 My presentation is available for viewing here!

Independent Learning Project #1 Participation

Activity Log:  November 23rd, 2015 at 2:50-2:57

For my first Independent Learning Project, I completed a Lynda.com tutorial.  On this site, there are thousands upon thousands of tutorials and videos available.  While it is a paid subscription website, there are still a wide collection of videos that are available for free viewing.  The tutorial that I watched was a demonstration for Adobe Photoshop CS5.  I chose to watch this video because of my interest and experience in Photoshop.  This video showed how to use filters to create certain desired effects and how they can be used together and not be too distracting or unattractive.  He described how to create a streaked outline effect on words, as well as how to turn a text file into a regular layer.  This video was relevant to me because of the possibility of my future Photoshop (and other Adobe programs) usage.

Final Blog Post!

I really liked working with PowerPoint.  The assignment was a lot of fun to create and work with a partner on.  I do not like group projects but this was an entertaining, easy assignment that made it worthwhile.  My partner and I designed a jeopardy-inspired game that was centered around the movie and book series Twilight.  This assignment showed me how teachers create these type of activities for reviews and study sessions.  I always thought it was a complicated process that I would never be able to do, but this lesson on PowerPoint showed me that it is not as hard or complicated as it has always seemed.  On the right is a screen shot of the title slide for our little game.

Data collection tools are definitely things that should be incorporated into everyday education and research.  They make collecting your own information easy and fun to create.  A data collection tool that I will be sure to use in my academic career and beyond is the online survey creator.  The websites available make creating surveys more accessible to everyone, as well as allow for an efficient way to conduct your own research.

After reading through my classmates' blogs throughout the semester has been great for instilling concepts and lessons that were being taught in class.  I feel like I learned just as much from everyone as I did in the class because everyone is learning it together.  When I read through everyone's answers to the blog prompts, it helped me make me understand the concepts if I did not already.

Another technology that I would love to learn to use next is HTML coding.  I've always wanted to learn how to create and design websites without the assistance of a website generator.  I would also like to get a refresher on Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator and take the tests to become re-certified.  I really enjoyed using these programs so it would be beneficial to myself as well as to my resume to have graphic design under my belt again.  Both of these technologies would be extremely desirable to future employers.

In order to achieve these goals, I plan to take a class or lesson on how to use HTML and how to properly edit the code I create.  There are classes available in some places, I'm not sure about FSU.  For the Adobe goals, I could purchase the programs and see what I remember to determine if I need to take another course.  I've taken four previous classes on the Adobe software but it has been two years since the last one.  If I do need to be reintroduced to the programs, I could take a digital design or web design class that would allow me to re-immerse myself into the activities.

Survey!

Hey everyone!  Here is a fun, short survey for you all to take.  It will take less than 2 minutes to complete and I would really appreciate it!

Abby Ft. Future

Technology is constantly evolving, especially within the classroom.  With the students advancing, the technology must get better as well.  A future technology that would really benefit every student is augmented reality.  Augmented reality has the ability to alter what we see, smell, feel, and hear relating to everyday things.  Items such as Google Glass, as well as many smart phone apps, already utilize this technology.  Augmented reality could be used to further presentations, lessons, and activities that promote hands-on interaction but are unable to get the real thing.  This could be especially beneficial for medical or engineering students who need to look at the interior of an organ or a mechanical part.

A future technology that was not mentioned in the book is something called biometrics.  Biometrics is defined as technologies that measure and analyze human body characteristics, such as DNA, fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, voice patterns, facial patterns and hand measurements, for authentication purposes.  This technology would be extremely helpful in adapting to students' learning styles, weaknesses, disabilities, and overall engagement.  It would change according to how the students are feeling and recognize when further explanation is required.

The digital divide is something that is unfortunate but very real.  I have access to technology in both my home and apartment so I am on the technological side of the divide, however, I am aware of those who are not.  Many students do not have access to a computer or other technology because of many reasons (financial, parental issues, personal beliefs, etc.).  In a class, not having access to internet or a computer could be a factor of someone being ostracized for his or her peers, or a lower grade on assignments.  To address this disadvantage in a classroom, I would make sure that there are resources available to students so that they can complete any work that requires a computer for an assignment or research.  I would not decrease the amount of technology based assignments, though, because learning and understanding how to use advanced technology is extremely important for the success of all students.

PowerPoints, Webpages, and Other CRAP

Using PowerPoint in the classroom has become almost essential and inescapable these days.  PowerPoint could be used to demonstrate every aspect of Bloom's Taxonomy.  For all of the components (create, evaluate, analyze, apply, understand, and remember), I would use PowerPoint to somehow incorporate them; I would create my own work in order for my students to better understand the material, and supply important bullets that allow them to study and remember what they are learning.  The information from my PowerPoints would show ways to apply the subject matter to everyday life or the tests.  I think that making PowerPoint presentations according to Bloom's Taxonomy would be extremely beneficial to the teachers and students, because they both would have the tools to really absorb the information rather than just memorizing it.

A wide variety of adaptive technologies in the classroom is more than just beneficial; it is crucial to the overall education of the students.  Different students learn differently and have to overcome various obstacles.  Examples of adaptive technologies are JAWS (an online reading software for the blind), handheld amplifiers that allow the hearing impaired to increase conversation volume, and Braille Note PDA (a refreshable braille display and keyboard) among many, many others.  These adaptive technologies allow those who may be in need of assistance or have any type of disability get the same level of education as those who do not.  It levels the playing field for every student and shields them from possible social ostracizing by his or her peers.  A challenge that a teacher could face while using these technologies could be that it would require consistent monitoring or something similar, but I think that these inconveniences on the teachers are worth the ultimate result; every child deserves the same opportunities as the others.

From completing the Web Page Design assignment (pictured left), I realized just how easy it can be to create a web page for yourself or class.  There are many reliable websites that make it possible to create a professional looking website that is easily accessible to students, parents, and employers.  I liked this assignment because it really tapped into our creativity and ability to design something that looks nice, following the CRAP (Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity) principles.  I think this assignment can be used beyond just a future career.  Knowing these principles and how to apply them to creating a webpage that is worthwhile is very important and you could use them to create a personal blog, educational website, or something outside of websites like a magazine design.

Schools Online

Looking back at my elementary school's (Sculptor Charter School) website, I can see many tabs that show where you can look to find information about the school.  I did not see any tabs that show any specific information for classes.  They probably only show those pages to the students, parents, and teachers who have log in information.  On the page, however, you can access policies, enrollment requirements, academic calendars, and information for parents.  There is more that you can look into on the school's website, but those are just a few.  The school goes from Pre K to 8th grade, so there is much to choose from.

Right now, I'm hoping to pursue a job in publishing and editing, so using some type of technology is an absolute must.  I have to be proficient with Word, editing and publishing programs, social media, and many more technologies.  I will also possibly be required to utilize Excel to create spreadsheets and keep track of assignments or tasks.  Using advanced technologies (such as a Smart Board) would benefit me as well, as they could help to keep people engaged and they are a more interesting way to show ideas or topics.

I was not able to complete the Web Evaluation assignment because I was home with bronchitis.  I did look at the slides though.  Being able to create a Wiki page would be incredibly helpful in order to get a lot of information into one easily accessible page.