Assignment Six.

For assignment six, I ran into few difficulties. Finding a good range of websites, that shows both sides of the spectrum, an unsatisfactory website, as well as an exceptional website, was a challenge. Based on my criteria for judging a sufficient website, I thought I would find mostly exceptional websites and few faulty websites that fail to meet any requirements.  To my surprise, all but one of my websites I found were unsatisfactory or not reliable.  Still, depicting how reliable they were was a difficulty but by focusing on all the details of the criteria, I was able to grade the websites accordingly.

I met most of my objectives, such as staying focused on my work, paying attention to the small details asked for the assignment, and starting the assignment early so I am not rushing. Especially by starting earlier, I was able to analyze the websites correctly and examine all the components of my rubric.  I think I have a better idea of what exactly I should be mindful of when determining if a website is valid.

I will use my understanding to teach my students. The assignment I created, for a seventh grade class, asked students to get information on a five paragraph essay.  I would use their findings to help me show them which websites are good to use based on what information they researched. Since this assignment depicts how to judge technology and websites to provide us with factual information, this assignment was helpful.

Assignment Five.

               For assignment five, I was mostly confused about how to change the inspiration sheets.  I was unsure how to change the sheets from a file that works with the program, to something that can be opened up in other programs, such as Microsoft Power Point.  I started to see what I could open up in Power Point, by using the insert menu bar and seeing which files were compatible.  Once I realized which formats I could use, I exported the files on inspiration into “.jpg”. 

I used the objective of mine to keep trying and not give up.  I had to keep figuring out different ways to open up the file and transport it to PowerPoint.  I also asked for help from my professor, which is another objective of mine, to make sure I was doing the assignment correctly and using the hyperlinks well.  Both these objectives helped me complete the assignment.

I had no idea how to convert files into a different format for applications.  Thinking about it now, I have stressed about this so many times thinking there was no way I could do that.  I used to just redo assignments in other applications.  Knowing this, I will save myself a lot of stress and confusion in the future. I enjoy learning about story telling because I know I can use this in my classroom. Knowing more about the application is very useful.  Also, as I have said, I need to know about this application and now to convert files for all my classes so I am fortunate to have the opportunity to learn it now.

This has helped me understand how to integrate technology in the education process significantly.  I learned a lot about both PowerPoint and Inspiration because of this assignment. It helped me convert files, use applications with other applications and helped me find an easier way to access different tool bars for action buttons.

Assignment Four.

What I found to be particularly difficult in this assignment is how to use action buttons in the PowerPoint. In the beginning, I kept trying to hyper link the slides together but the method I was trying to do this by was only for hyperlink files, graphs, or other presentations.  I couldn’t figure out how to hyperlink the separate slides together, which was an important step to complete.  I finally used “help” in PowerPoint to help me.  It gave me a detailed explanation so I was no longer confused.

            I honestly learned so much from this assignment.  I struggled a lot because I have never really used excel. I didn’t have the knowledge about excel to figure out how to perform calculations without using my calculator and typing it in.  But after listening in class and looking into the program itself, I was able to figure it out.  Now I know there are codes that I can use to plug in data in excel.

            The objectives I have used through this project is being patient with myself and giving myself enough time to figure things out.  I struggled but I kept at it and figured everything out. I hopefully was able to do all the different steps correctly such as linking the documents to one another. I also am learning and understanding a lot of different things about Microsoft programs which is something I was hoping out of this class. This assignment definitely helped me understand how to integrate technology into my education process.  Spread sheets are very useful to keep yourself organized and your own progress and something I will be using in my career. Even in my student teaching, I see teachers using excel so I am glad I am learning about this now.  

Assignment Two

             For assignment two, I was instructed to create a wiki, using wikispaces, and develop a lesson plan of my choice according to the grave level I wish to teach.  Since I want to become an elementary teacher, I chose to make a lesson plan on math for third graders.  I found this assignment to be particularly challenging.  I still do not think I completed it correctly since the assignment was to connect a page to the original and to link the professor’s account to mine.  Although I tried several times to do this task, I couldn’t seem to grasp what I needed to do.

                My obstacles centered on my confusion.  I wasn’t sure if I was doing it correctly.  I made the lesson plan and was able to put it up on wikispaces successfully, but then failed to link another page to it.  This assignment reflected on my objective to be on top of my work which I failed to do.  I did try to figure it out but I couldn’t in the end. This is definitely something I need to work on.
               The benefits of this assignment was understanding how to make a wiki and successfully uploading a lesson plan on to it.  Having a wiki is something I see myself using, especially to communicate with parents and upload what was done every day in class.  It’s a useful tool that I’m glad I am learning about now. Although I am learning about this new form of technology, I am not at the level I need to be to successfully use it.  I think eventually I’ll be able to grasp this technology.

Assignment One.

What I found to be particularly difficult with this first assignment was accessing the syllabus. I originally was searching on blackboard but eventually figured it out.  I was slightly confused with what exactly I had to complete before Wednesdays class, but after looking over the syllabus, which gives a straightforward outline of every assignment, I was no longer uncertain. My objective concerning the syllabus and being on top of my work was brought out with this assignment.  Since I was lost in the beginning, since I wasn’t enrolled in this class prior to this week, I had to rely on the syllabus to provide me with the information I needed to complete this assignment. 

Some benefits of this assignment were to see the overall outline of what I will be completing throughout this semester.   Since I spent most of this assignment reviewing the syllabus, I feel more comfortable knowing what is expected of me and when future assignments are due so I do not fall behind.  In any class, it is important to understand what our goals and objectives are so we can be aware of what we would personally like to achieve. Since I want to become a teacher, I will have my students identify their goals for the school year.   I will also be mindful of my own with my students and myself. 

Not only has this assignment provide me with a possible teaching method, it also provided me with a new program: blogging.  This seems to be very useful.   I’m sure I will become more knowledgeable about as I use it. Once I am more comfortable working with this program, and others over the course of the semester, I am positive I will use them in my educational process as well as my profession. When I see how useful these applications are, I will be willing to learn as much as I can about them and use them.