Class overall

Overall, I think this class was important and interesting. I am glad to have learned some of the options available on the web to share, use, and edit information. I think it will transfer to the classroom and be useful. I do not know how much I will actually use most of what we learned during this class in my own classroom, but it is good to have in my tool belt, so to speak. More than likely, I will use my new technology knowledge for personal use more than in the classroom. I wish we had learned more applicable technology that we would use more often in the classroom. I am not very familiar with Smartboards and other in-class technology, and I would have liked those types of things included in this course. For elementary teachers, those types of things would be more practical. I am glad to have experience with the different uses of technology, and have a better idea how to incorporate them into the classroom.

Website

Creating the website is a lot more involved than it is made out to be. Even thought I have already done most of the documents, it takes a lot of work to edit and upload them in the right format with the right content. I feel like this is overkill and unnecessary. Making the website is similar to other things we have done during this course, and if we have successfully completed the other tasks, like wikis and Google docs, we should be able to easily navigate setting up the website. I do not feel the need to redo everything on the website. I think the ability to be able to create a website is important, but should have been learned through the rest of the course for the most part. I also do not see the need to be so extensive with the content that needs to be on the website. If we can upload one document, we can upload anything. We are never going to actually use the website we create, and I feel like the requirements for the website are overkill and a waste of my time, to be honest. I am glad to learn how to create one, I just wish we could do one example of everything instead of the multiple ones required.

Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling is a great resource for teachers. I think it is a great way to introduce or explain a lesson topic. Visual representations always aid in the learning process. I was glad to see the different options to use youtube today. I think that will be the best and most useful way to incorporate digital storytelling into the classroom. After practicing making my own movies in iMovie, I feel like it is way too complicated and time-consuming to use very often. I can see myself using it occasionally, but not very much. It is a long time to create something that just lasts a few minutes and is supplemental to a lesson. Also, iMovie was frustrating and not user-friendly. After devoting so much time and energy to creating a movie, having the process frustrating makes it even less likely for me to use it on my own. I am glad to have the experience and option, but do not think I will use it much. Incorporating already made digital stories into my classroom is a lot more likely and a great resource. I am really glad to have seen the youtube options and will definitely utilize that resource.

Wikis

I am so glad we shared some of our resources during class. I agree that this project was not very useful until we shared with each other. I had not even looked at my team's websites, to be honest. I will need to go to the other Wikis and make a list of all the annotated bibs. I think they will be very useful in the classroom, but most of us are not thinking about it as being that important now. I want to get the list of them now so, I will have it in the future when I am sure I will want it. As for Wikis in general, I do not know how much I would use them in the classroom. I am glad to have learned how to use them and add them to my "tool belt." I think the class activity with them was a good way to integrate them into evaluating websites.

Inspiration Concept Map

After creating my own diagram with Inspiration Software, I find it to be very useful for the classroom. It is time consuming, but worth the effort. I do not know how often I would use this software, especially for the price, but liked having the experience in case I decide to use it. I do not know that I would use if often enough to purchase it. I think it would be a good tool for teachers and students to use, though. I am glad I got to practice using it.

Class so Far

I think I have learned some useful tips on how to incorporate technology into the classroom. I like that most lessons show the most basic to intricate use of each skill. That is a good way to diversify the class. It allows most students to get something out of each lesson. I also appreciate the application aspect to the class. That is really important to show us when and how to actually use technology in the classroom. If I wasn't shown that, I might not actually use any of this. Now that I have seen examples of it used in a classroom, I have more ideas of relevant uses.

Scavenger Hunt

Since I was not able to actually participate in the scavenger hunt, it was maybe not as meaningful to me as it could have been. I already have made a presentation using Powerpoint and Google Docs so this was basically using the knowledge from that to do the scavenger hunt presentation. It is useful to know how to embed a slide show in a blog. I can see using that in the classroom with posting students' work or supplemental info about what you are studying. Overall, I think it was a good activity that gave us the basic skills to use it, but didn't waste our time either.