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

Wespiration Classroom reflection.

Webspiration Classroom is a program that makes creating graphs and webs easy. The fifth assignment for my class, Principles of Instructional Technology, was to create a graphic organizer to develop the use of visual learning in the classroom by opening a trial account in www.webspirationclassroom.com. This program allows students and teachers to develop a Venn diagram, character map, or story web to dynamically involve the audience in the learning process. My project had to have a main idea and three supporting ideas with three levels of information, different fonts (size, color) and different background (color, clips, images, etc.), and four working hyperlinks. Since my content area is Spanish, I decided to do a story web about the types of stressed syllables and accents marks in Spanish. Having the information ready makes the process easier. I began filling all the spots in my story web, it was a little difficult for me to put related images in my project, but I tried to do my best. This program would be better if it would permit us to share the link to the project. It only allows us to download the project in word format or google as a trial account, but if we have a regular  account, Webspiration classroom is definitely a good resource to develop visual learning and keep communication between students and teachers. 

http://www.webspirationclassroom.com/view/1436969a35c2e