Final Reflection

This class has been my favorite class all semester. We used a lot of cool technology and how to use it in ways I never thought of.
The research paper forced me to learn about current technology in the classroom, and has retaught me how to find credible sources.

I think my favorite part of the class was our final presentations. Seeing how everyone progressed and learned to use powerpoint in an extremely effective manner was really cool.

I think that even though many of us were already proficient in most technology, we all learned how to use each item in a different manner and to create new ways to teach and to learn.

This class has been great and I'll miss it next semester!

Excel

Excel and I used to be really close friends. I used it for grades and a considerable amount of my math- but I haven't used it in a long time. In fact, I haven't used it since I got into construction. Making this crossword reminded me how useful it can be. I'm sure I will use it throughout my teaching career for many things. I will have to re-learn the different equations to make it effective but I'm sure that will come with time.

yay for excel!

Webquest

Making a webquest was a whole new experience for me. In doing so I have learned much better avenues to create nonlinear power point presentations. I had never really thought of using a powerpoint as an activity rather than for a presentation. Learning to use powerpoint in this way will really make teaching easier, especially when we're doing long lessons that need a lot of instruction. This could make it interactive and fun.

Making a website

I have made websites before, mostly for school, but it has been a long time. The technology that makes HTML editing extraordinarily easy. Putting pictures and colors in with absolutely no code is really easy. I will definitely use my websites more often and create one for every class I teach. It will make relaying information so much easier.

Awesome technology for Tutoring

So it hadn't really occurred to me to write a blog post about my job until just now. I work as an online Tutor for Schooltutoring.com, I have students that pay for a certain number of sessions and I work with them throughout- usually at least 8 weeks, up to three sessions a week. The sessions are an hour long and I get paid a flat rate.

What is so cool about the technology behind this, is the fact that there is seamless video integration. I can see them, they can see me and we have an interactive whiteboard that allows the student to see what I am doing realtime. This technology isn't new by any means- but it is an awesome use of connecting students with tutors across the country. For example, one of the students I am working with now is a second grader from Missouri. We meet three times a week. Another student, is a college student in Texas whose English isn't spectacular and needs help on papers occasionally. The seamless integration between time zones really allows people's schedules to interact in the best possible way.  I will be quite interested to see how video and realtime interactions will push education further and allow more people to interact.

Reflection of Nonlinear Powerpoint

My powerpoint presentation on "how beer saved the world" was fun to create. Not only is it a topic that I am interested in, but I think it will hold my classmates attention as well.  Creating the powerpoint taught me some new features about powerpoint that I didn't realize existed.
I used to have to create a separate slide show and link them all together to create the kinds of buttons and actions that I have in this one- but this version of PP allows me to do it quite simply. Now I can go way beyond a basic table of contents and create a whole slideshow, even circular if I wanted.
I am really impressed with how easy Microsoft has made it to do big things with powerpoint with absolutely now knowledge of HTML.
I'm excited to see more technology incorporating SMART into PowerPoint and seeing these two powerful technologies intermingle.