Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Final Reflection


I have learned so much and have really enjoyed this whole experience.  This class has really motivated me to incorporate technology into my class even more.  I love to use technology and I try to incorporate it as much as I can, but after this class I have many more ideas that I can't wait to try.

The tools I'm most excited to use are YouTube, Animoto, and QR codes.  I have already used these tools in my classroom, but now I have some new ideas to run with as well as great ideas of how to use them in the library. If I could, I would sit around all day and make book trailers on Animoto!

I also really see the value in podcasts and screencasts.  I recently attended an awesome training discussing the flipped classroom.  I would love to create podcasts and screencasts to get started on "flipping" my classroom next year.  I can see how students would love to create podcasts to show what they know about a topic or to give book reviews. 

I think the most difficult part of this class was the screencast assignment, only because Java was not my friend! :)  I was so frustrated that I didn't have a good experience with that assignment.  I had to get my tech support (my husband) to help me out on that one. I know these things happen when you are using technology, that's the real world.  It is just something you have to roll with when you use technology in the classroom as well.  Things usually don't go as planned every day!
I also had a hard time coming up with great ideas for using Instagram and Vine in the classroom.  I think I made it too hard.  I wanted students to be able to do projects and showcase them, but most of my ideas for Instragram revolved around the teacher sharing  student projects or events.  That's something I'm still brainstorming.

I think students will really benefit from all of these tools, but I know they will really get excited about cartoons and comics.  This year, my students were really obsessed with graphic novels.  This is the first year that I have noticed that!  They were constantly on the "wait list" to check out Smile, Sisters, and Drama by Raina Telgemeier. I know they will enjoy making their own comics and there are so many different ways to incorporate comics into lessons!

This was a great experience.  I learned a lot! I know I will use so much of this in the future.  I'm happy to have this blog as well to look back at all the ideas that I created or shared.

4 comments:

  1. I sympathize with you about the stress Java gave us for Screenr. I also got my tech support and he didn't want to give up. 3 hours later, I threw in the towel. Sometimes you just have to decide if it's worth it. I guess I'm talking toys elf
    Lol

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  2. As I read everyone's blogs I'm finding out that a lot of us had problems with Java. I did too. So far I've only read one post in which she used Screenr. She said it was a headache to publish the screencast, therefore, she chose Screencast-o-matic. I like Screencast-o-matic, but Jing and Slang although some imperfections were a blast to use. I love the class experience. I learned so much that I feel like a kid with a new technology toy and want to use what I learned and implement it already.

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  3. I also had trouble with Java, and when I finally got it downloaded I had no problem creating my screencast. The problem happened when I tried to publish. I left it running for two days and it never finished. I finally gave up. I really like your blog. Good luck with your students next year.

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  4. It's exciting to know you will be able to use these tools and to share them with colleagues. The students will think they're fun, and it will be new and fresh for them since your class will be the first time they see some of these!

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