Educational Technology Evaluation Growth

Beginning of semester

I am proficient in locating, analyzing, and evaluating information resources for both teaching and learning. I also know how to use digital tools to help students present their own knowledge. I am also prepared to integrate technology into my future classroom and use it for bettering learning. At the beginning of the semester, I needed to work on my ability to use spreadsheet software. I also needed to learn more about how technology can be used for students with special needs and where to find information on assistive technology. I also needed to learn more about designing technology-based learning activities that focus on real-world applications. My goals for the semester were to better familiarize myself with spreadsheet software and learn more about using technology to customing activities to student's diverse learning styles.

End of semester

My goals for the semester were to improve my ability in using spreadsheet software, which I feel that I accomplished. Throughout the semester, I used spreadsheet software and began to learn how to use it better than I could before. When I got stuck on making a graph or getting the software to solve a formula, I would find a video explaining it and be right on my way again. I definitely improved my ability to use spreadsheet software this semester. I also made improvements on my goal to familiarize myself with ways to use technology to accommodate different learning styles. I am learning how to integrate different aspects into one digital artifact that would be beneficial to all types of learners. I will continue to learn more about how to help each student succeed using technology. Goals I have moving forward is to learn more about assistive technology to help students with special needs. Another goal I have is to learn more about making technology as effective as possible for each student. Whether that is adapting it better to their learning style, or providing them appropriate challenges so they can continue to learn.

Badges:

Chatterpix:

Chatterpix is an app that allows you to draw a mouth onto any picture and record audio so that it appears that the picture is talking. I created an introduction for the first day of school using a picture of my cat! One potential use of this for students is to create an introduction for a famous person from history. This app provides an opportunity to make effective and engaging content because of the video creation aspect.

S'more:

S'more is a website that makes it very easy to create newsletters. I used it to create an invitation to an open house. One application for the classroom could be to use it to make newsletters to send electronically to parents, as this online format is easier to communicate than paper versions. This is effective and efficient, as it gets the newsletter to the parents online, paper free!

EdPuzzle:

Edpuzzle allows you to take any video and adding quiz questions to it. I added who/what/when/where/how questions to a video of someone reading a book so that the students. This is a practical example of how it could be used in the classroom, as it engages the students by having questions throughout and they can take it at their own pace. It is also enhancing for example if this is assigned on a snow day, the students still have the opportunity to learn.

Kahoot:

Kahoot is a website for creating game styles quizzes that the students all log onto and compete for the best score by answering the questions. The quiz I made, reviews the math concept of breaking numbers into hundreds, tens, and ones. This application in the classroom is a fun and engaging way for the students to review a concept, as it is set up as a game with the motivation of friendly competition. It is also an effective way to review, as the quiz is fun and takes little preparation.

Concept Map:

I used a website called popplet.com to create a concept map. Concept maps allow you to visually show how concepts relate to each other. The concept map I created shows how one academic standard can be interpreted, be covered in the classroom, and how to apply it to an assignment for application for the students. This is useful in the classroom to see visually and understand how exactly a standard is going to be taught, making it very efficient. It is also effective, as it shows exact6ly what needs to be done for the standards.

Jeopardy Game:

I used a website called playfactile.com to create a jeopardy style review game. The game I created asked questions about prefixes, suffixes, root words, contractions, and possessive apostrophes. This would be good in a classroom as a review game to play with the whole class in groups. This kind of game is engaging because it is friendly competition based, but it also helps them make sure they know and understand the concepts it includes, making it effective.

Nearpod:

Nearpod is a website that allows you to add interactive features to a slide show presentation. You can also have the students put in a code and see the presentation on their own screens while you go through it. The presentation I created was one that teaches how to break word problems into its parts that help students solve them. This is good for the classroom because you can present it as a lesson and get feedback on how the students are doing by using the quiz question features, making this an effective tool. It also keeps the students engaged, as there interactive tasks for them to do that you put into the presentation.

Production:

For my production badge, I created a video using iMovie that explains the difference between local, state, and national government. This assignment in the classroom would be intended for students to learn more about the differences between these levels of government as they created videos. By giving them the creative liberty of creating a video, it gives them the learning opportunity to plan out a video how they want to, while learning educational content as they complete the project. Because the students will be in charge of their project, they will stay engaged and it will be an effective tool in getting them to reach the learning goals.

Hour of Code:

Code.org is a website that is designed to teach kids about coding through step by step videos and interactive application that is designed to feel like a game for the students. This is good for the classroom as we move towards more technological advances and coding becomes a more prevalent skill. This engages the students as it is designed to be like a game, so it is engaging, but they are also learning a new skill as they complete and practice each task. This tool is also efficient, as it is already all set up online, making the preparation very simple.

PLN:

PLN stands for Personal Learning Network and it is a way for educators to be connected to other educators, administration, and to stay informed about technology. I created a twitter PLN by following educators that are role models for me. I also followed informational accounts to stay informed about technology in Indianan. Having a PLN will help me stay informed as an educator so that I can be the best teacher I can be for my future students. This tool is enhancing for me, which will translate into making me a better teacher, which is effective for my future students.