21 Things- REFLECTION
I think that completing the 21 technology modules gave me a whole new understanding of how to incorporate technology into my classroom and keep up with a world that is ever evolving to being technology centered. There are so many technological tools and resources out there that are so helpful for teachers and that I can definitely see myself using in my classroom one day. I was able to download several different programs onto my computer and access even more online. Some of the programs that stood out to me the most were ZoomIt, Diigo, Doodle, Dropbox, Evernote, Screen-o-Matic, Shutterfly, and Soundcloud. I learned how to navigate these programs and several others in a way that I can incorporate them into my future classroom and even teach to other teachers and students for them to use and learn from.
I really liked a lot of the activities from the technology modules but I think that one of my favorite modules was Thing Eight. This module was about appropriate technology use in the classroom and teaching students about online safety and respect. I thought this was such an important topic to teach to students to prepare them for a society full of technology. In this module I explored several resources for students to use to learn about online safety and even an activity to teach students about online elements and work through modules to gain a “digital passport”. I also really liked using Jing which is a program I downloaded on my computer that allows me to take screenshots extremely easily and only sections of the screen that I want to capture. With Jing, you can also make record speaking and make images, slide shows, or videos that appear on the screen into a presentation or video. Using Jing, I took several screenshots that I used while making my 21 things portfolio as well as created a slide show video about snacks for one of my module assignments. I will keep Jing on any computer that I use from now on and into the future as an educator because I think it is an extremely helpful and useful tool. I will recommend it to everyone that I work with and teach as well. I really enjoyed making the video and I think it is a great program to have.
I can see myself using all of these modules and the programs I learned about in my own teaching in the future. They are all useful programs that can be incorporated into any classroom setting and I think other teachers and administrators will also be able to make use of the technology tools. There were so many tools that I was able to access for creating lessons, planning activities, making surveys and schedules, as well as write teaching or classroom blogs to create an online presence for my classroom to enhance my teaching and improve my students educational experience.
Overall, this project not only helped to improve my technological skills, but it also introduced me to computer programs and teacher resources. Before completing these modules, I was always skeptical to incorporate technology into my teaching, and now I think it is such an important component of a solid and fulfilling education to help children become knowledgeable about the world around them.
I really liked a lot of the activities from the technology modules but I think that one of my favorite modules was Thing Eight. This module was about appropriate technology use in the classroom and teaching students about online safety and respect. I thought this was such an important topic to teach to students to prepare them for a society full of technology. In this module I explored several resources for students to use to learn about online safety and even an activity to teach students about online elements and work through modules to gain a “digital passport”. I also really liked using Jing which is a program I downloaded on my computer that allows me to take screenshots extremely easily and only sections of the screen that I want to capture. With Jing, you can also make record speaking and make images, slide shows, or videos that appear on the screen into a presentation or video. Using Jing, I took several screenshots that I used while making my 21 things portfolio as well as created a slide show video about snacks for one of my module assignments. I will keep Jing on any computer that I use from now on and into the future as an educator because I think it is an extremely helpful and useful tool. I will recommend it to everyone that I work with and teach as well. I really enjoyed making the video and I think it is a great program to have.
I can see myself using all of these modules and the programs I learned about in my own teaching in the future. They are all useful programs that can be incorporated into any classroom setting and I think other teachers and administrators will also be able to make use of the technology tools. There were so many tools that I was able to access for creating lessons, planning activities, making surveys and schedules, as well as write teaching or classroom blogs to create an online presence for my classroom to enhance my teaching and improve my students educational experience.
Overall, this project not only helped to improve my technological skills, but it also introduced me to computer programs and teacher resources. Before completing these modules, I was always skeptical to incorporate technology into my teaching, and now I think it is such an important component of a solid and fulfilling education to help children become knowledgeable about the world around them.