Reflection Journal Entry #13: Final Reflection

I really enjoyed this course because it helped me to realize a lot about different software and programs that I had not known before. The course was very laid back and not too difficult which I liked. Although, the assignments were not very challenging I thought that the basic concept of understanding how to use the programs was important. Also, having class time to explore the programs and the different tools helped a lot as well. I feel as though this class is an essential to take for teachers of all levels because technology and the way teachers teach are changing drastically. It is very important for teachers to be up to date with the newest technology because this is what we will need to use in the future. Students these days are so progressed in their knowledge and computers are used for so many things. Therefore, I feel like learning these programs will really help teachers to connect to their students. Also, so many of these programs have many different tools that can be used not just for teaching but also for the students and for parents. I learned how to make newsletters, scrapbooks, calendars, etc. that can be so helpful especially in the younger grades to stay connected with parents. Most of the software and programs we explored I had never taken the time to really go in depth with them. However, through this class I was able to really find other ways to use the programs. I think the difficulty of this class was just right because it helped to focus on learning how to use the program rather than trying to figure out how to create a challenging project. I thought knowing the fundamentals was key because with that we can explore on our own. I also enjoyed the open endedness of the projects because we were able to test out what we wanted and what would be beneficial to us in the future rather than doing something that was meaningless. I think in this way we were also able to fully look at everything in the software to figure out what would work best for us. The reflection journals were a great idea to show and express what we learned, what was difficult, and how our projects could be used later on. I thought having the reflection journals and the feedback about them and our projects was very good. Overall, the class was very beneficial and I am excited to use what I learned and what I will continue learning in the future as a teacher :)

Reflection Journal Entry # 12: Video Software #3

I had never used iMovie in the past, but I have used Windows Movie Maker. Although there are some similarities I wasn't used to all the different elements and procedures on iMovie so it was a bit difficult at first. However, I thought the whole process was good and I'm glad that I learned because now I can use two different kinds of video softwares. I think the video software could be used not just for educational videos but also to record my students to show parents what we are doing in class. Also, I could use it to record students for certain projects and have them watch themselves to see what they did good or bad. Overall, video software seems like a very good program to have and can be used for many different things. I always thought iMovie was much more complex and difficult than Windows Movie Maker but after this project I found it to be almost easier. Although we didn't get to explore too much with it I think it would be good to use in the future for other projects that I may have to do. I had a lot of fun making the video and editing it.

Reflection Journal #11: Video Software #2

Strengths:

• I found a good experiment that would be easy for the students in an elementary level to learn about and have fun watching.
• I used easier words for the students to understand and defined my terms such as 'density'.
• We added effects to the video to make it seem more interesting and to keep the kids more focused by having something fun for them to focus on (such as music or sound effects)

Weaknesses:

• After watching the part of the video where I was teaching my experiment I think I could have explained it better. I think I just told the basics of the experiment without really explaining to the students what the purpose of the project was.
• I think I could have been more clear with the steps of the experiment. I realized that to me and people my age it may make sense but to younger children it may not be as clear.
• I could try to engage the children more into the video by being more enthusiastic or vcen having them do their own experiment afterwards.

Overall, I think there were parts of our video that were both good and that could have been improved. As "the expert" I still have to realize that I'm trying to teach younger students who don't really have any concept of certain topics such as gravity or density and therefore I need to be careful of the way I explain things. I learned that I should be more engaging and enthusiastic in order for students to stay focused on the video.

Reflection Journal #10: Video Software #1

My favorite movies have a lot of my favorite actors and actresses. They really captivate me and makes me feel as though I am in the movie. I know, sounds corny but I like movies that really bring a lot of emotion. I think the emotions in the acting (enthusiasm, anger, sadness, etc.) bring a movie to life. In addition, the music (soundtrack) of the movie also really draws me. I think when the right type of music is played to fit the specific scene of a movie, it really enhances the scene. Also, when movies have good scenery, are shot at different locations, and have cool effects, it just makes the movie that much better.
On the other hand, educational videos don't really have much of this. I mean there are really cool videos, such as Planet Earth or The Magic School Bus that can keep viewers entertained and educate them. However educational videos shot in a classroom or with just some professor speaking can get extremely boring. Usually, the speaker will have no emotion and the whole lesson just sounds like a huge monotonous lecture. Also, there aren't really any effects or music because that would take away from the main message trying to be presented. The scenery is usually a chalkboard or white board in the background, and the most action you get is the speaker writing things on them. Unless the lecture is REALLY interesting, most times viewers have a hard time paying attention.
In comparing these two types of videos, I think it will help us in making our own videos. I can't say that our video will be anything like those in the movie theaters, that cost billions of dollars to create. However, we will try our best not to make it into some boring lecture educational video. I think by adding music, having enthusiasm, and showing interesting things, kids will both enjoy it and learn from it.

Reflection Journal #9: Gaming Project

I am not much of a gamer, but every once in awhile I do find them entertaining. I never really thought of games as being very educational or mind stimulating, but doing this project really changed my perspective. While experimenting and testing out different games I realized that they really make you think and the animations or the content makes you want to keep playing. Although addiction could be a very dangerous thing, I think when it comes to educational games, being addicted for a little while couldn't be too harmful. I still don't think violent war games or violent car games are very educational but when actual math or science is involved, I believe students can learn a lot. I do feel as though teachers and parents should be very cautious of the age level and content presented in the games. In my future teaching career I think using video games to teach math could be very fun and entertaining for the students. I know that when growing up do the normal worksheets did not catch my attention for very long and even made me dread doing math. However, playing this games was very mind stimulating and grabbed my attention even as a college student. I think depending on the material and the content in the games, video games are a great way to help students learn.

Gaming Project

In our math time, we have been practicing various addition problems. As a way of using different methods to learn how to add, we will be using a computer game called Save the Apples! In this game, students must correctly answer the addition problem given in order to help the monkey cross the river with his basket of apples. If the answer is incorrect, the monkey's apples fall into the river and are eaten by a crocodile. While both entertaining to watch the animations, students should also find the challenge of saving the monkey and apples to be compelling and fun.

In a BBC News article titled, Video games 'good for you', it said that video games help to stimulate the mind and also improve vision. Researchers Shawn Green and Daphne Bavelier said, "Video game playing enhances the capacity of visual attention and its spatial distribution." Studies were done by the researchers that compared gamers versus non-gamers and the results showed that gamers had much better results in tasks that involved attention and vision. Therefore, researchers also say, "Although video game playing may seem to be rather mindless, it is capable of radically altering visual attentional processing."

5 Questions Parents May Have

1. Is there any inappropriate content?
No, the game is completely child-friendly. The content on the game directly addresses the math we have been learning in the classroom. Also, the animations on the screen are fun cartoon animations that are not at all violent or explicit. The children are helping the monkey to cross the river without getting its apples eaten by the crocodile. Even with this, the monkey and crocodile never come in contact and therefore the game does not show any violence.

2. Why does my child need to practice math using a computer game?
As studies show, when children are engaged in a game type setting and are being interactive they are able to focus better. Also, through the animations their attentions will be grabbed and thus help them to want to actually practice math. In trying to help the monkey across the river will encourage them to work through the problems and solve them correctly. This is both a fun and educational way to learn.

3. What if my child wants to play at home? Won't this get addicting?
If they want to play at home, that's great! Yes, the game could get addicting but because it's educational and they will be learning it's not a bad thing. There are tons of other educational games online, that include topics in science, reading, spelling, etc. Although they may be playing games, there is a lot of learning and brain power incorporated into them. Therefore, you shouldn't have to worry about their knowledge going to waste, because they will be using it throughout these games.

4. How much time will this take during the school day?
The good thing about this specific game we are using is that students can play for however long or short they want. We will be using this game only during our scheduled math time. However, many times we will also be doing other activities and using other ways of teaching math, not just computer games. Computer games are just one of the various methods to help students learn and to give them a different way of learning.

5. Is the content suitable for my child?
The game we will be using, along with many other games, have settings that can be altered. There are many different levels, such as easy, medium, hard, etc. that can be chosen to the student's best interest. Also, some games have timers in order to stimulate a student's mind even more. Therefore, no matter where the child may be, just beginning or a little more advanced, the game will have content suitable for each individual.

Reflection Journal Entry #8: Audio Software

I never had any past experience using GarageBand no Audacity so this whole project was a new experience for me. For the project, I recorded a tune on GarageBand and decided to just have my students open this pre-made tune and sing a song about seasons (lyrics given to them) along with it. I think this would be a great way for the students to be able to learn different topics (numbers, shapes, math, reading, etc.) through songs. I could create my own tunes and my own songs about certain topics and use this as a fun way for them to learn. Also, I could use this program so the students can create and record their own songs or poems for certain holidays or even for their parents. This way the parents can see what the kids are learning in class and also can involved with it. I think it would be difficult to get the students to create their own songs unless it's just with the piano, but even then it wouldn't be very easy for them. Therefore, I think for a second grade class it would be easier to give them a choice of pre-made tunes by me (the teacher) and then just have them record their voices over it. For the tutorial I used Audacity which was a lot simpler because this program is only used for voice recording. I think I could have students recite their assigments (poems, readings, etc.) on this so that I can hear them and then maybe even let other people (classmates, other teachers, parents, etc.) listen to them. This way people will know what is going on in my class and all the things we are doing. I think in order to use these programs, I would need to clearly explain to my students, step by step, the procedures and directions. Even for me, the programs were a bit confusing but for a second grader, it would be much harder. Overall, I'm glad I got to explore these two programs because I think they would be very useful and fun to use in my classroom and teaching. They are a fun way for students to get interactive and to let others listen to their works as well.

Audio Project: Song of the Seasons

Purpose:

• To create a fun way for second graders to learn about the seasons. Songs are a great way for younger kids to both be entertained but also memorize different topics. Therefore, by singing about the seasons students will have a fun time but the lyrics will be ingrained into their minds. The tune of the song is "This Old Man," which most younger kids know. Therefore, I thought this would be easier for most students to know and to sing a long to. The lyrics of the song are:
  

  Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
  There are seasons, four in all.

  Weather changes, sun and rain and snow,
  Leaves fall down and flowers grow.

  Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
  There are seasons, four in all.

  Look outside and you will see
  Just what season it will be!

Note:

• I would save my song as "Grace's Song" on the desktop of all my student's computers so that they can open it and listen to a demo of it. Then, I would save a copy of the tune ("This Old Man") to the their desktops, titled as "Grace's Tune". I will already have everything set up for them so all they need to do is press the record button. Also, I would type out a copy of the lyrics onto a word document and also save a copy of it onto all the student's desktops, titled as "Season's Lyrics".
  

Personal Growth:
I have never used Audio Software in the past, especially not something like GarageBand, so it was a new experience for me. At first it was really awkward to hear myself and it felt really weird to be speaking and singing into a computer. I guess it still does feel weird but it got a lot easier. I thought the programs were not as hard to use as I thought they would be. In the beginning I didn't realize that if I messed up I didn't have to start all over again. Therefore, when I kept messing up even towards the end I would delete and try to complete the recording in one attempt. However, I then realized I could cut out the parts I messed up and just record over it which made the process a lot easier. The only real difficulty I had was playing the song on the piano in GarageBand, which took more than a few attempts. Even now it sounds a bit shaky, but for the most part I had a lot of fun.

Reflection Journal Entry #7: Multiple Intelligences

According to Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences, I am a mixture of a bodily-kinesthetic and interpersonal learner. I feel as though my categorization of being a mixture of these types of intelligences wouldn't really affect my teaching in any sort of way. I think I would do my best to accomodate all my students, because each child has a different style of learning. Therefore, I would try to incorporate each type of intelligence into my lessons, projects, assigments, etc. Since I will be teaching second graders, I think the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence is present in many younger children. They are always active and wanting to move around, that interaction is needed in order for them to stay focused and entertained. Also, as having an interpersonal intelligence I think it would be easier for me to communicate with my students and even their parents. I would also create many opportunities for the students to talk and contribute to class discussions or activities. Overall, however, I don't think the type of intelligence I have will affect my student's learning or the way that I teach. Rather, because I know all these different types of intelligences I can try to incorporate different ways of learning into my lessons.

Reflection Journal Entry #6: Excel Project

I always never fully knew how to use excel because instructions were pretty much given to me by teachers when I did have to use it. Also, the only thing I ever made on excel were line graphs for science classes. Therefore, trying to make different graphs was a bit difficult but also very frustrating. The bar graph that I made wasn't as bad but the picture graph was very irritating. I had to make it from scratch and without a template sort of thing. Then, when trying to copy and paste multiple copies of the same picture the sizes would keep changing so that just took a lot of time. Also, mid way through the project, the program closed out and wouldn't reopen my project so I had to redo half of it all over again. I guess for the future using excel as a grade book would be a good idea and probably much easier. Although annoying, I could try to make different sorts of graphs to teach my students about various graphs but also to teach them how to read certain graphs and why they are used. I think just from this experience I've been a bit turned away from excel just because it was giving me so many problems. However, I know overall this is a great tool to use and can be useful for many different things such as for my own personal assignments, but also for grade books and to teach about graphs. I think before making a graph, one should be taught how to read graphs and what different parts of the graph mean in order to make the process a bit easier. I think in the future I would want to try to make a grade book using this tool since I didn't get to do it for this assignment.

Excel Project: Learning to Read Graphs

Purpose:

• To create a fun way for second graders to learn about different graphs but also to learn how to read them. In this project, a bar graph of skittles and picture graph of fruits were created. Students are then supposed to try to to figure out many of each colored skittles exists in a bag using the graph and also how many fruits were bought using the graph.
  

Excel Project was e-mailed

Personal Growth:
In the past, I have only used excel to make lines graphs for science classes and even then I had a lot of difficulty. Therefore, trying to make different types of graph was a bit challenging. The picture graph was especially frustrating because I had to make it from scratch. I didn't know whether the data sheet was needed and trying to place the pictures in was irritating because when I copied and pasted the sizes of the pictures would continuously change. I did find new graphs that I could use to teach younger children but overall just using excel was difficult.

Reflection Journal Entry #5: Presentation Software

Previously, I had only used the presentation software to create the normal presentations for informational projects. I never really used any of the different transitions effects and I had just made the slides go in order. Now that I know how to link different slides together that are not in sequential order, I could make many different kinds of presentations. I could make different sorts of trivia games or more fun filled ways to involve student interaction. This software would keep kids entertained if the presentation were created in a creative and interactive way for the students. I had never really liked the idea of using the presentation software when teachers wanted a "creative" way of presenting something because I thought the whole idea of slide after slide with information was really boring. However, I think through this assignment I was able to learn more entertaining ways to use the software and therefore it would keep my audience more interested. Word and the publishing software would be a good introduction to using this software because then one would know how to add text boxes and photo boxes. Also, knowing how to link pages to one another is also a very useful tool. I think there are more interesting features of the presentation software that I have yet to explore.

Presentation Software: Math Jeopardy

Purpose:

• To create a game of jeopardy for second grade math, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. This is a great way for students to learn but also be entertained through the different slides. Also, the idea of a game or even a competition can be very stimulating for the student's minds.
  

Presentation Software Project is on Educ2040Barger

Personal Growth:

• In the past, I have only really used the presentation software for informational projects. I just created projects that went from one slide to the next slide. Therefore, trying to make a jeopardy game where I had to link slides to previous slides and such was very difficult but also frustrating. The process took quite a bit of time but overall it was good to find another use for the presentation software.
  

Reflection Journal Entry #4: Desktop Publishing Software

I had never used Desktop Publishing Software before so I found it very interesting. However, it was also very easy to use because the examples/templates given allow a very easy way to simply put in your own information/pictures. While exploring the different features, I found many different ways I could put this program to use. I could create fliers or letters for parents to tell them about upcoming events or even for what their children are doing in class. There's a worksheet maker that I could use to create assignments for the students. Also, I could teach my students how to use the program so that they could create letters to send to their pen pals. Although my students would only be in second grade, the program is not too difficult to use and they can use the templates that are already there and replace the information with their own words and pictures. Since I didn't know about Desktop Publishing Software before using it in this class, I can't say anything about my change of thoughts or ideas. However, I can say that I am very glad that I was able to explore this program and that I was introduced to it because I will definitely be using it in the future. I'm glad that we got to play around with Word before doing this assignment because I was able to place pictures, text boxes, format things on the page a lot easier. I haven't fully explored everything on the publishing software yet so I'm excited to see what else I can use it for.

Desktop Publishing Software Projects: Scrapbook of Events

Purpose:

• To create a scrapbook/memory book of the fun and exciting events and activities that occur each week in class. This is a great way for parents to keep up to date with what their children are up to. Also, the kids can have a fun time looking through their own pictures and look back on the year and see how they have grown.

Desktop Publishing Software Project is on Educ2040Barger (the one titled "Scrapbook")

Personal Growth:

• I actually had never used Desktop Publishing Software before so it was really cool to be able to experience it. I found it very interesting to see how many different projects and activities you could do and create with the program. I found the tool to be very easy to use and navigate around. I definitely will be using this in the future to create all sorts of projects for my students to do but also for my own use in creating fliers/letters for parents or to send cards.
  

Reflection Journal Entry #3: Word

In my past, I had mainly only used Word for papers and different letter type assignments. I knew that the picture, table, chart, and word art tools existed but I never really had any purpose to use them. However, through this project I was able to experience and use all the different tools which was really interesting. I had difficulties with it because I couldn't quite understand how to place everything on the page so that the elements would all stay together and fit. As I kept experimenting, things started to get a little easier but I found so many different tools that can be used to make fun and interesting assignments and projects for my students later on. Also, ever since Word upgraded to newer editions I lost interest in trying out the different tools because they seemed to confusing. After this project and trying out the various tools, I realized that it's not that hard but there are many different components on the newer Words that can actually be quite useful. Charts and graphs can be used for math assignments and pictures can be used to just make the page look more attractive and entertaining for the students. I'm excited to explore more with Word and see what else I can do.

Word Project: Dinosaur Scrapbook

Purpose:

• To create a scrapbook type project with all the students in the classroom about dinosaurs. Students will have a fun time drawing and coloring a picture of themselves with a dinosaur they choose. However, they will go onto a website to research the dinosaur of interest to them and have to write down facts. Therefore, the assignment can be both fun and educational.
  

Word Project is on Educ2040Barger

Personal Growth

• I had never used word other than to type up papers or letters, so trying to do something completely different and creative was a challenge. I had never really made tables or scrapbooks on word before so just trying to organize everything and getting everything to fit a certain way was difficult. I had a lot of problems and it was frustrating because everything would shift depending on if the picture was too big or if I added a text box or word art in a wrong place. I think I have a better sense of all the different tools that Word offers, not just for writing papers but for making other projects as well.
  

Reflection Journal Entry #2: Criteria in Looking for Sites

When looking for a site for my students I must be very cautious, especially because they are second graders. I would primarily look at whether the site is appropriate and user friendly for children of the younger ages. They shouldn't contain any offensive or vulgar words or images. Of course credibility is very significant as well but I would first look to see if the site suits the second grade knowledge level and then see if the site is credible and well content oriented. I would also check to make sure the site is easy to use and navigable for students. If there are too many different links to click or go through it would be too difficult for students to use. The site should also be fun and exciting for students to keep them entertained and focused.

In terms of finding sites for my classroom preparation, I would primarily look to see if the site is credible or not. The site doesn't have to be all colorful and picture filled for me when trying to prepare a lesson for a class. I think the content is most important because I will be using this information to teach my students and therefore I would need trustworthy information with good resources. For preparing classroom lessons, I would be more open to sites so that I can become as educated about the topic as possible.

When finding sites for my own entertainment, I don't have many restrictions other than staying away from sexual or vulgar sites. I mean, yes, sometimes I do look for credibility just so that it's not a complete waste of time but I more so look for something that will interest me not so much for the facts and knowledge I'll gain from it.

Annotated Sites List

Personal Growth

• I found myself challenging the extent to which I really thought about the sites that I chose to use and going beyond the obvious. Instead of choosing the typical "teacher" sites such as Enchanted Learning, which has everything that a teacher needs for any type of curriculum on one site, I tried to find sites that would stretch my own knowledge. I found it difficult to find sites such as these because the ones that did seemed a bit to difficult for students of a second grade level. I had to find sites that were both fun for the students but also a little challenging which wasn't the easiest task. In the end I realized that I could just take certain ideas from sites and use them to create my own creative, fun, but education based lessons and activities.
  

Purpose

• To list 5 websites and explain their credibility, the purpose of the site, and how they can be beneficial to a second grade teacher. The following websites can be used both for the content within them and for the ideas that emerge from them.
  

1. Pen Pals

• This site introduces a pen pal organization that can be used for teachers and their students. I found it to be credible because they have a ton of information about the organization and the people in charge of it. They also have contact information and pictures of the different students involved. Overall, the site was very professional and had a lot of information and references that made it trustworthy. Teachers can use this site to help their students learn about other cultures as well as use this as a tool to improve their writing and reading skills. Through this pen pal system, students can also learn different languages by communicating with children of different countries around the world. The great thing is that this site can be used with students of all ages and backgrounds. Teachers can communicate with one another to create relevant lessons plans that the students can talk about with one another.

2. Worksheet Maker

• This site is an interesting tool to use in order for teachers to create their own worksheets for students based on the topic they are teaching. Many different incorporations and companies pulled together in order to create this site for teachers which shows credibility. The site also has contact information and different resources that can be checked. Although there are worksheets that are pre-made and can be printed out, teachers can also custom make worksheets to fit their own needs. These worksheets can range anywhere from puzzles to factual worksheets which is really nice as well.

3. Supplies

• O'Block Books is an online store for teachers to use to buy supplies for their classroom as well as their individual needs. An address, phone number, and e-mail address are listed on the site which shows that it is credible. The site has supplies for every subject and specifically for second grade teachers. The store consists of workbooks, teaching materials, and classroom materials which are all essential for teachers.

4. Health

• This site is created by Dole food company which is very well known and credible. Mostly based on health and food, the site contains a separate page for teachers. Teachers can use this site to teach kids about healthy ways of eating and exercising that can be fun and exciting for younger students. The site contains various topics incorporating food and physical activities that teachers can base lessons around. This is a good way to promote healthy eating and lifestyles at a young age so the new generations of children can be healthier and more active. Students can also explore on this site at home with their parents to find good recipes and activities to do for fun.
  

5. Resources

• This site is created by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Extensions program which works to help improve different educational needs around their community. The program has contact information listed and the program is very well known for people in the education program around the area. In addition to improving education needs, the program helps to promote good citizenship as well as many other links that provide information about many different topics for younger children. Teachers can pick and choose from certain sites and find good lessons to teach. There's one site, Out on a Limb, which teaches about resolving conflicts amongst children. Therefore, teachers can use this site and similar sites to teach children about proper behavior and how to be good people. In addition, students are able to go onto some of these sites and watch different videos or play games that are educational.
  

Reflection Journal Entry #1: Credible vs. Non-Credible Sites

When asked whether a site is credible or non-credible many different ideas pop up into my head. I initially check to see if the site is organized and professionally done. However, even if the site doesn't look completely professional but the content looks alright I check to see if the site has a publisher (name, contact information, company, etc.) that can be looked up. If there are no sources for me to look up and to check for validity then I usually do not use the website. If there is a publisher I then look at the copyright date to make sure the information is pretty recent and not from fifty or more years ago. After I check for and approve the validity and source of the website I then proceed to reading the first line or two of the page (if there is content) or I look for something on the site that will give me information to check and see if the grammar and spelling are correct. Lastly, I check to see if the site have any links to references or sources for the information shown on the site. If the links are referencing other sources that I know are scholarly, I know that the site can be trusted. However, when sites with facts don't have links to references but are published by a professional organization specializing on the topic of the website I can trust the information.