E-portfolio Reflection

Creating an E-portfolio was the last project in my class Introduction to the Principles of Instructional Technology. The objective of this assignment was to understand the principles of an E-portfolio. The e-portfolio should integrate all the projects created throughout the course. Each project should have a brief description. I created my e-portfolio in weebly.com which is a website that has amazing and useful tools. These tools allow you to easily develop a webpage. I enjoyed seeing my projects come together. Creating an e-portfolio was time consuming, but it was an enjoyable experience. It is a wonderful technological skill that can be used when we apply for a job. Teachers and students can develop their e-portfolios with recordings, stories, and reflections by selecting and presenting their projects in a professional way. 
Using these technological resources to create an Electronic portfolio helps develop students’ technological skills. Creating a website and uploading supportive materials to develop an electronic portfolio promotes the ability to use advanced technological resources. Developing an e-portfolio on a website impacts the learning process in a positive way. An e-portfolio can contain students’ work allowing parents and other students to see it. Students can develop writing skills, as well. It is a valuable tool for a teacher to use in the classroom. I learned a lot in this class. I always wanted to make a website, but I didn’t realize how easy it can be. I like using technology in the classroom, because it promotes active participation and keeps students engaged while learning and having fun. Thank you Mrs.Schrecker.
http://pratcliff.weebly.com

Web Quest Reflection

This assignment was designed to demonstrate ability of authoring and publishing web pages and the capacity to incorporate technology to meet curricular goals. Creating an interactive lesson with resources beyond the classroom to promote active participation in the classroom and engage students in the learning and thinking process. The goal of a teacher is “design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes” (ISTE Nets‐ T2); “design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity” (ISTE Nets T2, a); and “model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning” (ISTE Nets T3,d). Using Google Sites I created a Web Quest, it is a technological resource that enables students and teachers to develop lessons and presentations. Google sites were a little more confusing to me when I wanted to organize the pages of my lesson. It made me feel frustrated. The other components of the web quest site were quite smooth. I started developing my lesson about similarities and differences between Spanish culture and U.S.A. culture. I also incorporated technological knowledge in the lesson plan for 5th grade students. It was the first time that I did a lesson plan with a rubric. I still have a lot to learn about it. I like the technological resources that we have available to us on the Internet, but it still is a little difficult to fully understand the technological requirements because a lot of school districts still do not have enough economic resources to acquire this enormous engaging benefit from currentlytechnology. I will certainly utilize it in my classroom if it is afforded to me.

https://sites.google.com/a/ashland.edu/pratcliff-s-web-quest-project/

Wiki Reflection 

    This assignment was to create a Wiki in Wikispace.com with the purpose of conducting a discussion board about the research on two emerging technologies.   Wiki is an Internet resource that allows teachers and students to communicate effectively between each other. Wikispaces Classroom is a social writing platform for education. It is a workspace where teachers and students can work on writing projects alone or in teams. These great assessment tools provide the necessary power of to monitor student posts, engagement in real-time, and give feedback and support as required. Wikispaces Classroom can be used on tablets and phones. Wikispaces Classroom is free for teachers and students. After creating the Wikispace we had to choose two emerging technologies from Webquest.  The technology has come to impact almost every aspect of our lives, and the style in which we learn, communicate, approach information, and evaluate student performance. This is possible across the developed world, but it is very remote in economically disadvantaged areas. Most of the emerging technologies are Internet limited and require technological resources such as computers, I-pads, tablets, and smart phones. The concept of education is changing in small consistent increments, and programs are coming to transform the vision of education in schools. Some School Districts are already using tablets and smart phones. The two emerge technologies that I chose were Blendspace and PowToon.

    

Blendspace has a dashboard that consists of a list of classes and the canvases created for each class. Teachers can see whose students have joined the class and the canvases that students have created for the class. Teachers can also create a multiple-choice quiz, Students are able to design their own canvas, as well. The canvas could be shared with the rest of the class for a homework review, or to get feedback.

    PowToon is a highly innovative emerging technology. Teachers are able to inspire students with creative stories and evocative presentations via the addition of short animated video clips. Powtoon also allows teachers to use animated characters. This feature enables educators to create interactive story lines that tend to be more inspiring and inclusive for all students, but especially for the growing number of students for whom technology has become commonplace. 

Wikispace.com has a great deal of potential to increase communication between teachers and students.  I will use it in my classroom.  
https://pratcliff.wikispaces.com/home

Movie Reflection

This assignment was designed to demonstrate proficiency of using a video editing program and the ability to integrate technology to meet curricular goals. The NETS•S encourages teachers to; “design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity”(ISTE Nets-T, 2a) and “promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness”( ISTE Nets T, 1a). For this assignment I could use Windows Movie Maker, Windows Live Movie Maker or iMovie. The video should be an educational video relating to my area of study. The movie must be creative to engage students’ learning. I was permitted to use videos, pictures, power point slides, sounds from music or a recorded voice. I used pictures, transitions effects and texts to enrich the movie. Utilizing a slide movie title and credits was also a requirement to complete the project. The project could be a classroom visit, lesson, or a field trip.  When teachers are able to bring more interactive lessons via video, sound, and images, students are actively motivated and involved. Using multimedia can improve creative thinking and problem solving for students. Students can design presentations and video reports. Teachers can share classroom performances with their peers, as well. Movies are yet another tremendous benefit for teachers and students, making it more enjoyable and easier to learn.

My IMovie  http://youtu.be/1Yr6ZMBExpQ

Power Point Reflection

Power point as a Hyper Media Tool was my 8th assignment. I learned how to create non-linear hyperlinks. Using non-linear hyperlinks in a Power Point presentation, we can create games, quizzes, presentations to open house, reviewed classroom field trips, a virtual field trip, create a tutorial, etcetera. We can include sounds, graphics, animations, and videos in a dynamic presentation. Creating a Power point presentation allowed students to use interactive tools, to reach a learning goal. Power point is a formidable tool. A non-linear hyperlink allows students to navigate the project providing an opportunity to move from one slide to another. The requirement for this project was to include 5 non-linear hyperlinks and two linear hyperlinks, sounds, graphics, and animations. It took me more time than a regular power point presentation, because I wanted to include all of the requirements for the assignment. I did not know how to use non-linear hyperlinks before, but after I read and watched the tutorial videos, I started understanding the new concept about Power Point presentations. I did a project that included a Spanish vowel lesson and a game. After I was used to using non-linear links it was easier to finish my project. I enjoyed doing it. I will use it in my classroom. It is a good resource to differentiate styles of learning and teach all types of learners.  I’m pretty sure that the students will enjoy it, as well.   

Pinterest Reflection

    Pinterest.com is an innovative visual social network that people use to collect and share ideas by creating “boards” with graphics, pictures, and internet links called “Pins”. We can plan trips, create educational projects, and save interesting articles and food recipes. We can follow other users' boards according The assignment number 7 in my class, Introduction to the Principles of Instructional Technology, was designed to sign up for a Pinterest account and create a Pinterest profile with my name, picture, and information about myself, and also to connect it to my course reflection blog along with my course and Twitter account. I had to create a total of four Pinterest boards using pins from other boards, using snapito.com and pinstematic.com , power point slide, pictures of my own, QR codes, and animoto.com for original content. Each board had to have a descriptive title and at least 5 pins. I started navigating through the social network on the profiles that my teacher suggested to me. I found really good material to use in the classroom. One of the boards should be developed by pins already pined on pinterest. The other boards had to contain original material, and it took me more time to complete them. I used pictures of my own additionally I share some of my last projects. When I had to create a field trip, I didn’t hesitate to use my hometown, because it is a beautiful city, and I wanted to share everything Oaxaca, Mexico offers to the visitors. I am so proud to be from Oaxaca. It was really enjoyable to create a Pinterest account, it is a worthy resource to find ideas to teach in the classroom, and also to share my own ideas with other teachers. Students can also use it to find ideas for their own projects and assignments. I definitely will use it in the future. 

http://www.pinterest.com/pratcliff9140/

Google Documents Spread Sheets and Database Reflection

   In module 6 of my class Principles of Instructional Technology, I had to create a classroom grade book, and an online quiz in Google Drive using spreadsheets, Google forms and Flubaroo. I heard about Google Drive before, but I never thought that it would be so useful. I worked before with Microsoft Excel, and it is similar, but Google drive spread sheets are so much easier to work with. The program links the data with a graphic chart, and it also grades the quiz by putting the results in a spreadsheet. After I reviewed all the material provided by my teacher, I started practicing with the tools that the program has in order to get used to them. Everything was perfectly explained in the instructional tutorial videos. Since I work in a school as a Bilingual Instructional Assistant, tutoring mathematics to 3rd, 4^th, and 5th graders, I decided to create a math quiz. I started my project visualizing my students and my everyday work. I began creating the quiz for the 4th grade students. I reviewed the themes to create a quiz that I will need for my data. I really want to start using it. It is a wonderful tool to use in the classroom. It will make my job easier. I will definitely use it now and in the future.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtAaScfB18_XdFQ3MGExUElDVGZPajdkckxYcWs0X0E&usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtAaScfB18_XdFJlSUxmamZxcXNtdmFjNVJYZEhUd0E&usp=sharing