IT 365 Course Reflection

Throughout IT 365, I was exposed to many different types of technology and software programs. Using Google I was able to explore Google Documents, Google Groups, and also Google Blogger. I have had previous experience with Google but did have some difficulty navigating some of its features of the Google Groups. I feel that I was the weakest in this part because I was not very familiar with the new features of Google. I will focus on my weaknesses by practicing using the Google functions to become more familiar.

             The Concept Map through Inspiration was a fun and informative. I plan to use this program for many subjects throughout my teaching career. Another assignment was using Assistive Technology and I feel it was the most informative. I learned so much about the different features that my computer offers for students with different disabilities. The Print Screen button is another feature that I was introduced to throughout this semester. I feel that I was able to use the Print Screen and Assistive Technology features with the most ease.
            My future learning goals include becoming more proficient in all areas of technology that we have discussed and created assignments for. The best way for me to become more proficient would be to use the instructions and software tools that we have discovered and used throughout this semester. I was not very familiar with the Assistive Technology assignments but I quickly discovered the use of these different computer functions.
                        I plan to use technology throughout every aspect of my teaching career. I can use technology as a resource but also as a learning tool for my future students. There are so many fun websites that teachers can use to help students receive extra practice but also to get information for upcoming lessons. Another great thing that technology offers is the opportunity to create a personal website for classroom assignments. I am planning to create a website that will give parents the opportunity to see what types of assignments and topics that we will discuss in my future classroom. My website will also be accessible for students also to see upcoming assignments and exciting new things to come in the classroom.
                        This class gave me so much new and informative information that I will be able to use in my future classroom. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to explore different software programs and will plan to use all of these in the future.

Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology was probably the assignment where I learned the most information. I have never been exposed to the capabilities a computer possesses to help a student with different types of disabilities. I was able to learn also about the Print Screen button which I found to be very helpful and easy to use for teachers. Sometimes teachers are limited on time and if the website they are looking at has interesting photos the teacher can just copy the exact page and share to a power point, excel, or word document. I will definitely use the Print Screen button in my future classroom for ease of use and for time constraints. I had a hard time finding the exact place on my computer to access most of the helpful tools for students with disabilities but once I found them I was so thrilled to discover them.

The standards used:

1.      Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.

 4.      Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices.

These standards are all very beneficial when using Assistive Technology tools. Students will be able to access the same computer programs that students without disabilities use on a daily basis. Having this knowledge will make it easier for me to conduct lessons that are accessible for all students with or without a disability.

My Assistive Technology Power point ~

https://docs.google.com/open?id=1kWqETyCL9uPLRZRk79HiqcLNGnjo7WN5-1TUnI4UZB1PJrNgbGBjKQlPCLGl

Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues

Turnitin Software is a great tool for teachers to use. Not only does it tell you the percentage of information used from websites, it shows exactly what information came from which site. I actually had one problem with the use of this software. I was unable to edit a paper without having more than a 24 hour time period and I felt that was very difficult to finish this assignment to its fullest potential. I will definitely use Turnitin in my future classroom for the use of plagiarism purposes. I have never seen this software being used and think it is a great idea for use in English classrooms.
The standards used:

 

3.      Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.

4.   Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices.

 

 

 

 

Turnitin Final Draft Paper ~

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kLeJP6dyQCf6wc8OTojYOb05mcaucgyDUCOF5xgDDEM/edit

Web Tools

The websites I used to create my assignments were very helpful and easy to navigate on. The websites helped me create tests, rubrics,and other documents I can use for my future classroom. I did not find this activity to have any difficulties and feel this was a great excercise to be able to use my own creativity. I will definitely use all of these websites in the future. Worksheets are great enrichment activities and having knowledge of using these websites I should have ease accessing and creating worksheets.
The standards used:

2.     Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S.

3.  Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.

These standards used are very beneficial for the use of these websites to create classroom materials. Using professionalism, creativity, and responsibility in creating these items will allow teachers to explore their own knowledge of testing, and other fun materials.

My Website

My website ~ https://sites.google.com/site/msflowersmathclassroom/

The website I created was probably the most important thing I created in relation to becoming a teacher. Teachers should create websites to be able to share information to not only parents but students too. Students are becoming more and more technical that having assignments and things posted on a website makes it easier for students to access resources and information that is needed. I didn't have any difficulty with this assignment because I had previous experience with creating documents like this. I will definitely use a website in my future classroom.
The standards used:
Each one of the standards used can relate creating a website. Creativity is very important so that the website is easily accessed and used for students and parents.

      2.      Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S.

 

4.      Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices.

 5.      Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources.

Google Groups

Hannah's Big Adventure!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IMm1ZIoJ-fSeXT307u_q4yV6QPY9IsRiImkffHbRsHs/edit
Through using Google I was able to work with 3 other classmates to create and share a story which we all took turns writing. I found this assignment to be very hard to complete when we were all on different schedules and weren't sitting down as a group writing the story. I learned some new things about Google and what it has to offer. I would love to use this Google capability to explore different ways to post assignements and similiar to what we did for this assignment, write a compiled story to share.
The standards used:

1.      Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.

2.    Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S.

4.     Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices.

5.    Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources.

All of these standards are necessary for success of this assignment. Students should be able to use their creativity to write a story to share and compile with other students in the classroom. I throughly enjoyed being able to use my creativity and hope my future students would like to use this capability of Google.

My Movie

Through Windows Movie Maker, I was able to create a one of a kind story about my family and friends. I enjoy spending time with people that mean the most to me and here they are. I have learned so much from using this software and completing this assignment. Through using this software I did not encounter any difficulties but I did find it hard to download free software to use for the My Movie Assignment. I will definitely be able to use this software to integrate technology into my future classroom.
The standards being used are:

2.      Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S.

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.

All of the standards I have listed are used for this assignment. I will be able to use this movie to promote use of creativity for learning. The assessements can be applied to design and develop digital-age learning experiences not only for the students but for the teacher also.

Concept Map

Concept Maps are often used to represent scientific or historical concepts. My concept map I have created is based on weather on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for a third grade classroom setting. I focused mainly on weather that tends to occur most often from sunshine to hurricanes to tornadoes.

Through creating my Concept Map I was able to expand on one subject while looking at all aspects of the one topic, weather. I didn't encounter any difficulties with this assignment. I found this assignment to be very helpful and informative for future classroom usage.

The standards that were used:

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and CreativityTeachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.

2.      Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S.

3.      Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.

All three of these standards can relate directly to the creation and use of a concept map. This assignment explored the use of creativity to engage children in different subject areas, using digital age learning and assessments, and modeling digital age work and learning. This is something that most teachers should explore the use for future classrooms.

National Educational Technology Standards

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:

a.	promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.
b.	engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.
c.	promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.
d.	model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers 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 identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a.	design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
b.	develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.
c.	customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.
d.	provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:

a.	demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.
b.	collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.
c.	communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats.
d.	model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.

4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers:

a.	advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources.
b.	address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources.
c.	promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.
d.	develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools.

5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers:

a.	participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.
b.	exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others.
c.	evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning.
d.	contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community.

Comments: These standards are very important to follow for teachers today since technology is such a widely used resource. Not only should teachers use these technology resources, they should also encourage their students to use them. Students should be encouraged to show their creativity in every aspect of their work. Teachers should always encourage their students and always lead by example.

Introduction

Hey Everyone!

My name is Jamie Flowers and I am from Diamondhead, Mississippi. I have lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast my entire life. I have recieved a B.S. degree from the University of Mississippi in Hospitality Management. Hotty Toddy! I have always wanted to be an Elementary teacher and now am achieving this goal by attending the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast.

I am looking forward to becoming a mentor to these children. I feel that education is the most important attribute to any person's life.

                 "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."
                                                  -- Henry Brooks Adams

Technology is very important and I feel that everyone should have the opporunity to put this to great use. Children now use technology in every part of their lives, from cell phones, to video games, to computers and the internet. Technology should be used in classrooms today.