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.

Blog Post 5

Web 2.0 technologies are available to help students become more involved in the classroom.  These technologies can be used to create educational blogs, become engaged with tech savvy students, and create new fun ways to express information, among other things.  The podcast mentions Twitter, which I really agree is very helpful for student-teacher relationships.  Through Twitter, the teacher can post assignments, reminders, and a lot of other useful ways.  Students can also interact with each other through this platform.  YouTube is another tool that I find to be extremely useful in a classroom setting.  YouTube is home to millions of videos (educational and fun) that can definitely be used to enhance the learning experience.  Minimal equipment is needed to utilize these tools.  A computer/laptop, projector, and a Smart Board, if possible.

I chose to review Scribd.  I feel as though this would be perfect for so many educators.  It is an online database that allows access to a digital library which includes, PDF files, audio files, and many other different types of work.  It also permits its subscribers to publish their own documents, making the available for the use and enjoyment of others.

This website is extremely valuable for everyone, teachers especially.  With a subscription to their services, you have access to over 400,000 published titles.  Here, they are readily accessible, making it possible for all of their students to be able to participate in a lesson on them.  They also have mobile formats, so reading on the go is more than possible.  Anyone would definitely benefit from utilizing this resource.

I haven't completed the concept mapping assignment yet, so I cannot reflect on how the aspects could be used in my future career.

Digital Citizens

I chose to critique my high school's website, which I haven't ever really looked at in depth.  When you open the page, it looks very clean and concise.  The name is large and captures attention, the school's contact information is readily accessible, and the tabs are clear as to where they will take you.  The site also shows news pertinent to students and parents of the high school.  It is not difficult to find what you are looking for or to navigate the site.  It utilizes graphics, images, a table for the calendar, and columns that make it more aesthetically pleasing.

If I were to teach a class, it would probably consist of younger children between nine and eleven.  Teaching or incorporating technology into the class would be very important, especially in this day and age.  I would use age appropriate programs and software such as Microsoft Word to create assignments, PowerPoints to give presentations and instruction, and email (most likely to parents) to keep the students updated on work and upcoming assignments.  Digital citizenship concepts that I would address are the idea of "netiquette" in web interactions and a complete understanding of copyright laws.  It is very important for young students to start learning these concepts soon so they are able to effectively use computers throughout the rest of their schooling.

From working on the newsletter assignment, I realized just how much work and effort goes into creating the newsletters that are sent home with students regularly.  I put into practice the skills necessary to make more than one set of columns and how to manage them.  Something I did not know how to do before class and this assignment was how to use page- and section-breaks.  I did not realize just how useful they are and I plan to use them with my future Word documents and work.  This assignment, while possibly time consuming (depending on the amount of work put into it and the desired outcome), was actually pretty fun to complete.  It is really easy to get super creative with a newsletter; it can go in any direction you're wanting to take it.

Tweeting Teachers

As a student, I use Microsoft Word so often I could probably put a paper in MLA format with my eyes closed.  I have some kind of writing assignment due for every single class that I have right now, so Microsoft Word is my best friend.  I used Word often in middle school but my usage increased drastically once I entered ninth grade.  For what felt like every week for four years, I was writing paper after paper on Word.  After a while, I was very sick of seeing a blue stripe on the bottom of my computer screen, but I learned to love it.  Other than for writing essays, I use Word to create resumes, take notes, and complete other various tasks or assignments.  My teachers almost always have Word incorporated into their discussions or lectures.  Whether it's used for a syllabus or for creating instructions for an assignment, Word is heavily relied upon in the classroom.

The concepts of fair use and copyright are not foreign to me as I have applied them to much of the work and projects I completed for digital design classes.  When using Photoshop and other picture editing programs in class, we would practice on pictures that were not our own.  We would have to look into whether the photos or clip art files were deemed ready for fair use or if the photos were copyrighted.  My experience with fair use and copyrighting go beyond pictures and into my writing.  Research papers and other essays where I have to cite the source make up a large chunk of my experience.  Under fair use, I am allowed to use certain excerpts from different passages for critiques and research so long as credit is given to the author.  As a teacher, I would establish a rule against plagiarism.  I would require that my students use only what they are allowed to within the parameters of what is available for usage in papers and assignments.  Using other sources in their works would be okay as long as they cite from whom and where they received the information, usually quoting verbatim.

This week we learned about Twitter; what it is and how to use it, specifically in an educational setting.  Before this lesson, I didn't know that there were so many opportunities to use Twitter or other social media in a classroom setting.  Being engaged and involved in what your students are using can be very important to the success of the class as a whole.  When teaching a class full of digital natives, it is crucial to understand how and through what technological mediums they learn best.  If I were to become a teacher, I would use Twitter in my classroom regularly.  I would tweet reminders and helpful tips for the class and upcoming assignments.  In any career I choose to pursue, being able to utilize a social media outlet like Twitter is a great skill to have in order to involve a wider audience than I would have been able to without it.

New Twitter!

Follow me at @abby_creel  

Teaching in Digital Times

Computers and technology are very important in educational settings.  Without them in this ever-evolving, digital day and age most people would be lost.  We are, as a whole, very reliant on technology to help us complete a very large amount of assignments and tasks for school and work.  In a classroom setting, there probably isn't any other type of medium for education more efficient than computers.  They are used to show presentations and PowerPoints, write essays, give instruction, and so many other things that some may not even realize.  Even now, as I am being severely distracted by my phone, I am using a form of technology that I would otherwise be in trouble without.  In the chapters, the importance of using technology as an educator is greatly emphasized.  Without the access to computers in the classroom, some students would not be able to have access to them at all, whatever the circumstances may be.  Adapting to the ways the students learn and use technology is essential for effectively teaching them.

Becoming a teacher is not my overall goal but there are many aspects and characteristics of a teacher that I will most certainly use in my life.  Absorbing these characteristics and teaching styles are crucial for, I think, most careers nowadays.  What I can take from these teachers are techniques of teaching and refreshing people on how to use the technology I have grown up with.  I would use technology to organize my notes and thoughts on various topics relating to my work, to communicate to my peers (at work as well as outside of work), and use audio/visual cues to help people to remember what I am showing to them.  I will also work to accommodate as many learning styles as best I can in order to really understand the person I am working alongside.  I hope to learn from this class how to effectively communicate my ideas and presentations through the use of technology.  I also want to better my understanding of how to incorporate the systems previously used while still keeping up with the never-ending evolution of technology.

The term "digital native" is used to describe those who were born into the Digital Age.  We know what the latest technology is and we know how to use it, while those who are a little older may face more challenges to truly grasp what the new technological fad is.  I do agree with the idea of "digital natives."  As one myself, I acknowledge the fact that I grew up learning how to use these kind of advanced computers and tablets.  We have it slightly easier than someone who may be a "digital immigrant," due solely to fact that this new technology was suddenly introduced and is constantly being thrust upon them before they ever get the chance to master the previous one.  We, as natives to these quick upgrades, are used to having to adapt to the new technology.  Now, I am not saying in any way that this is how it is for all adults who are not "digital natives," I'm simply acknowledging that we have it easier.  There have been numerous times in class where the teacher cannot figure out how to change something on the computer or turn something on.  The class would sigh because, to us, this is simple.  But us teaching our educators how to use something they didn't before betters the use of technology in classrooms, helping us all to be more successful.  In the future, this title of "digital natives" may switch from my generation to my brother's generation.  Technology is forever changing and I anticipate to receive a few sighs from the younger people when I forget how to change a setting on my hologram.

Learning about Learning Styles

I am constantly using technology one way or another.  Whether it is using my iPhone to message my friends or writing a ten page paper on my laptop.  Technology is surrounding all of us all the time.  I'm not too technologically advanced when it comes to more complicated tasks, but I am just savvy enough to get the job done; especially when it comes to the more creative side of things.  I have taken four digital design classes, as well as completed certifications in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.  In addition to these programs, I am also reliant on my Microsoft Office account for many of my everyday tasks.  Writing papers and applying for scholarships just would not be the same without the help from Word.

Because my major (Editing, Writing, and Media) and future career are very technologically demanding, I'm hoping to learn many of the basic and advanced skills needed to be truly successful when using many computer programs.  With the world becoming more and more digitized with each day, the ability to utilize these skills will make someone an incredible asset to anything he/she goes into, which is what I am hoping to achieve.  What I am hoping to learn from this class is how to properly work with a variety of different programs that I can use to better myself and those around me.

When I completed the Learning Styles Questionnaire, my results were half what I had expected.  Having taken a learning style test before, I went into the questionnaire ready to see similar results.  However, two of the results were a little surprising.  Between an active learner and a reflective learner the quiz determined that I am more of a reflective learner, which is something that I was not expecting.  I do agree with most of the reflective learning result description because I do like to think about what I'm learning before going out and trying it out.  The other result that was not what I had expected was the verbal learning style.  When I took a different learning style test about two years ago, it showed me that I was a visual learner.  While this Questionnaire shows that I'm fairly balanced between verbal and visual learning styles, the result leans more toward the verbal style.  Comparing what I remember about my first results with the new results I received today just goes to show how my learning style has changed over the years.