I forgot about this one and did the final reflection as my post :)
So, that movie was really really interesting for me. It really made me realize how important it is that I teach my students the basics of technology, because that is all that will be the same in 3 years with the turnover rate of technology. It is really important because I realized because of this movie that I have to train my students for jobs that haven't been invented yet. How crazy cool and amazing is that? And how much more important is it that I make sure my students know the basics before I send them into that unknown?
I also was impressed with how much technology has changed in the last few years. The turnover rate is really astounding. 12 years ago my parents had a brick cell phone that would occasionally work. Now cell phones are smaller than three inches tall and less than half an inch thick - how amazing is that? Technology is changing the world, and it is important that we adapt with it and motivate our students by choosing technology to use in the classroom that will make a difference for them.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Final Reflection
Honestly I have to say that I got more out of this class than I expected to. I learned about many new technologies, and learned that there are thousands more that I never knew about! I had quite erroneously believed that I knew all of the big technologies that could be used in the classroom, and now I'm so glad that I've learned about many others, like google sites and wikis and diigo and prezi. I'm also really glad that I learned how to use imovie - I feel confident that I can make a basic movie for anything now :). I learned some of the basics of photoshop - a program that someday I hope to have mastery over. I know how to make a website, and how to use that in connection with the classrom. I even made a website for a class I'm in right now :).
I really have learned about a lot of really good ways to include technology in the classroom. Prezi is a really awesome way to do a powerpoint, but without the boring-ness of a powerpoint. Powerpoints can be made on google and shared between group members - how cool is that, and how easy is it to assign a group project about something now? For sure I will use what Google has to offer with google sites and blogs and google documents in the classroom. For everything else, I don't have a real concrete idea of what to do with it yet, but I'm excited that I have those as possible resources. Technology is a great way to increase motivation for students.
I really have learned about a lot of really good ways to include technology in the classroom. Prezi is a really awesome way to do a powerpoint, but without the boring-ness of a powerpoint. Powerpoints can be made on google and shared between group members - how cool is that, and how easy is it to assign a group project about something now? For sure I will use what Google has to offer with google sites and blogs and google documents in the classroom. For everything else, I don't have a real concrete idea of what to do with it yet, but I'm excited that I have those as possible resources. Technology is a great way to increase motivation for students.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Internet Safety
For my 30 minutes of learning about internet safety I signed up for I-SAFE. Wow - I couldn't believe how intense the website is, and was really impressed with how committed they are to educating students and parents about internet safety. It is a big deal - and it should be a big deal. I'm really glad that there are people out there working hard to educate everyone about how to be safe.
As for teaching about internet safety, I taught my husband. I was lacking time and so were my parents, so I went with the next best thing :)
It was a really good lesson - just like in our class there were things that surprised him about internet safety that he hadn't ever realized. Three of those things were "bcc" option on emails, blogging safety and privacy, and the importance of keeping information safe and professional on facebook.
I started teaching him about email and his eyes started to glaze over a bit, but then I mentioned that there was a way to keep his friends and family's email information safe. We talked about what "cc" and "bcc" mean, and what each one does and why that is important. I was surprised that no one had ever told him before about those options, and why they were so beneficial.
When we started talking about blogging and I used some of the examples from the in-class slideshow of tips from the Ensign. I mentioned that blogs have a variance of privacy settings, from being public and viewable through a basic Google search, to being public but only viewable with the right url, to being completely private with readers requiring invitations to read the posts. I told him that our family blog is public so friends of friends can read it, but not searchable so complete strangers couldn't find it. We were able to discuss perhaps going private after we have children, and why. It was a good discussion about the availablity of blogs.
The last thing that was most interesting to him was how many employers will check facebook, myspace, and google for potential employee information. It made both of us think about our facebook pages and what it said about us, and how we could present better images of ourselves. My husband was especially interested in this because he will be going into business, and wants to make sure that he is very well portrayed publicly.
All in all it was a good lesson, albeit non-formal.
Our lesson, the lesson I taught, and the things that I saw when I was looking at internet safety really made me reconsider what I put online. I've been very free - I googled my name and my address came up from a friend's group wedding announcement page. I will never post to group pages again!!! Good thing we're moving . . . yikes. I have even done the phone number and address change, because now I'm thinking more about why someone would need that info and how they could use it.
All in all, I feel much wiser.
As for teaching about internet safety, I taught my husband. I was lacking time and so were my parents, so I went with the next best thing :)
It was a really good lesson - just like in our class there were things that surprised him about internet safety that he hadn't ever realized. Three of those things were "bcc" option on emails, blogging safety and privacy, and the importance of keeping information safe and professional on facebook.
I started teaching him about email and his eyes started to glaze over a bit, but then I mentioned that there was a way to keep his friends and family's email information safe. We talked about what "cc" and "bcc" mean, and what each one does and why that is important. I was surprised that no one had ever told him before about those options, and why they were so beneficial.
When we started talking about blogging and I used some of the examples from the in-class slideshow of tips from the Ensign. I mentioned that blogs have a variance of privacy settings, from being public and viewable through a basic Google search, to being public but only viewable with the right url, to being completely private with readers requiring invitations to read the posts. I told him that our family blog is public so friends of friends can read it, but not searchable so complete strangers couldn't find it. We were able to discuss perhaps going private after we have children, and why. It was a good discussion about the availablity of blogs.
The last thing that was most interesting to him was how many employers will check facebook, myspace, and google for potential employee information. It made both of us think about our facebook pages and what it said about us, and how we could present better images of ourselves. My husband was especially interested in this because he will be going into business, and wants to make sure that he is very well portrayed publicly.
All in all it was a good lesson, albeit non-formal.
Our lesson, the lesson I taught, and the things that I saw when I was looking at internet safety really made me reconsider what I put online. I've been very free - I googled my name and my address came up from a friend's group wedding announcement page. I will never post to group pages again!!! Good thing we're moving . . . yikes. I have even done the phone number and address change, because now I'm thinking more about why someone would need that info and how they could use it.
All in all, I feel much wiser.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Last Week's Presentation
Last week I chose to attend the McKay School of Education's Technology Project presentation and awards ceremony. I was there from 3-4pm, and had the following thoughts.
First, I was surprised by how many people I knew from my education classes that had decided to participate in the event. I was impressed with several of my friend's projects and how interesting their projects could be when presented in a classroom setting. Actually, some of my closest friends from my English classes won third place! I am really excited for them. Their project was the diigo and brain-map websites to help students write persuasive essays.
Second, I was interested in all of the different ways that technology can impact the classroom. From diigo to google-docs to asynchronis video presentations. That was the one that I thought was coolest - Amiee and what's-his-name's project with video. I will be sure to use the "basic" technologies of diigo and google docs, but connecting to other classrooms and experts with video I think is what can be really interesting for middle and high school history students.
Third, a small part of me wished that I had done one of these projects as well. Not just for the money, but for the experience getting to be familiar with different technologies to use in the classroom. I basically thought that the whole project was a really cool idea, and I hope that the McKay school will be doing it again next year.
First, I was surprised by how many people I knew from my education classes that had decided to participate in the event. I was impressed with several of my friend's projects and how interesting their projects could be when presented in a classroom setting. Actually, some of my closest friends from my English classes won third place! I am really excited for them. Their project was the diigo and brain-map websites to help students write persuasive essays.
Second, I was interested in all of the different ways that technology can impact the classroom. From diigo to google-docs to asynchronis video presentations. That was the one that I thought was coolest - Amiee and what's-his-name's project with video. I will be sure to use the "basic" technologies of diigo and google docs, but connecting to other classrooms and experts with video I think is what can be really interesting for middle and high school history students.
Third, a small part of me wished that I had done one of these projects as well. Not just for the money, but for the experience getting to be familiar with different technologies to use in the classroom. I basically thought that the whole project was a really cool idea, and I hope that the McKay school will be doing it again next year.
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Lewis and Clark Expedition movie
Lets see if this works. Cross your fingers, everyone!
This was a really frustrating project for me, for a few reasons. First, I don't own a computer with any sort of movie making capabilities, so I had to work in the lab in the MCKB, not at home. My schedule isn't really compatible with that of the Mac Lab, and that was frustrating. Second, once you save the movie on a computer you can't move it to another computer. So I had to always try to get the same computer, which was stress. It took a lot of time for me to assemble all of everything together, so I had to go to the lab three or four times. I also had some problems uploading to youtube, where the movie freezes at 1:03. It only does it some times though. . . .
Overall, I would use this in the classroom only if we had the technology and I felt that using it would enhance the overall learning.
This was a really frustrating project for me, for a few reasons. First, I don't own a computer with any sort of movie making capabilities, so I had to work in the lab in the MCKB, not at home. My schedule isn't really compatible with that of the Mac Lab, and that was frustrating. Second, once you save the movie on a computer you can't move it to another computer. So I had to always try to get the same computer, which was stress. It took a lot of time for me to assemble all of everything together, so I had to go to the lab three or four times. I also had some problems uploading to youtube, where the movie freezes at 1:03. It only does it some times though. . . .
Overall, I would use this in the classroom only if we had the technology and I felt that using it would enhance the overall learning.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Movie Project
I haven't really done anything with my project since last week, but I am excited about it. I've been looking at images and videos and getting ready to assemble all of it together on imovie. Pretty much this means that I'll be spending all week in the Mac Lab in the McKay Building to assemble it all and make it look cool. I guess the only thing that I am still nervous about is assembling all of the pieces together and posting it on Youtube - do you need an account to do that? I'm assuming so.
Basically things are going well, because I haven't done any of the difficult stuff yet :)
Basically things are going well, because I haven't done any of the difficult stuff yet :)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Video Storyboard Idea
For my video I will do an overview of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Here is my very broad storyline:
I'll start by showing a clip of a forest or a picture of a forest with a river going through it, with a voice over about the importance of finding the Northern Passage across the nation through rivers. Then I'll show a map of the purchase and where the expedition started, and do an animation of the way that they traveled till their first important stop. From there I'll show a picture of their first important stop, and insert a clip from a professor talking about why this place is important. Then I'll do another voice-over animation of the map till their second important stop. I'll show another picture, and discuss why its important, and then go back to the map to show the last important stop before reaching the coast and insert another professor clip or image of the place. I think that doing this through a video only makes sense because the trip becomes more alive and realistic as you see images and distances, and hear from an expert as to why it was so important. The visual nature of the journey and the importance of hearing about it at the same time (through someone different than your teacher) keeps the expedition interesting and exciting.
Here is my very broad storyline:
I'll start by showing a clip of a forest or a picture of a forest with a river going through it, with a voice over about the importance of finding the Northern Passage across the nation through rivers. Then I'll show a map of the purchase and where the expedition started, and do an animation of the way that they traveled till their first important stop. From there I'll show a picture of their first important stop, and insert a clip from a professor talking about why this place is important. Then I'll do another voice-over animation of the map till their second important stop. I'll show another picture, and discuss why its important, and then go back to the map to show the last important stop before reaching the coast and insert another professor clip or image of the place. I think that doing this through a video only makes sense because the trip becomes more alive and realistic as you see images and distances, and hear from an expert as to why it was so important. The visual nature of the journey and the importance of hearing about it at the same time (through someone different than your teacher) keeps the expedition interesting and exciting.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Video in the Classroom
I love video, and see myself as a teacher using it frequently. I think back to my American Heritage days when our teacher had at least one movie clip per class, and they were all really cool and did a great job of illustrating the point that she was discussing. This is how video can help students - by giving them a visual product to help them understand an abstract idea.
I see myself using small youtube clips, small clips from movies, and maybe even most of a movie if I felt that it was really good at helping illustrate a point. And of course TV episodes - The West Wing comes to mind.
I also can see myself assigning video projects to students. I remember doing this in junior high and high school - where our assignment was to work with a group to make a three to five minute video about a topic. So I would use the equipment available at my school to have the students create their own videos or podcasts.
Using video is a great benefit to students because they live in a world that is full of video. They can connect to it easily, and I know that when a movie clip is played in class I pay more attention to it because I am interested in how it relates - it keeps my attention fresh.
I see myself using small youtube clips, small clips from movies, and maybe even most of a movie if I felt that it was really good at helping illustrate a point. And of course TV episodes - The West Wing comes to mind.
I also can see myself assigning video projects to students. I remember doing this in junior high and high school - where our assignment was to work with a group to make a three to five minute video about a topic. So I would use the equipment available at my school to have the students create their own videos or podcasts.
Using video is a great benefit to students because they live in a world that is full of video. They can connect to it easily, and I know that when a movie clip is played in class I pay more attention to it because I am interested in how it relates - it keeps my attention fresh.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Personal Technology Project Completed
Holy wow; that's all I've got to say in response to this project.
No, I can say more, but that sums it up pretty well.
For my project I had dreams of learning how to use Adobe Illustrator or InDesign and combining that knowledge of what I had with Photoshop to create a really cool project. The project idea was to gather free images from the Creative Commons in Flickr and have a certain amount of images that were places, people, American symbols, and quotes and put them all together to create a cover for a U.S. History book.
The project idea was great, but it was the learning the programs that got a little dicey. A few months ago I wanted to learn Photoshop, so I took the basic class offered by the university. After the class I didn't touch Photoshop again until this project. I was thinking that some things had been retained but was totally shocked when the only thing I could remember doing was importing the picture by dragging it from Internet Explorer into Photoshop. So for this project I had to scale back my technology plans. Using the online tutorials I re-took the class and had to re-learn everything. You might think that I'm trying to fudge this, that I didn't really forget, but on my honor code, I knew nothing. I was shocked myself at my little retention rate. I knew what I had the potential to do, but not how to do it.
.
So I imported images, created layer masks, used brushes and the many kinds of selection tools (magic wand and quick selection are the best - the magnetic lasso is probably the most difficult tool to control in the world), added layers, added shadows and embossing, combined layers, added text, and learned the basics all over again. I found that when I didn't know how to do something or couldn't figure it out with the "Quick Reference Guide" they give you, watching the video of the class and going with the instructor is a really great way to do it. Very helpful.
I'm not sure how I should turn in my products, but I will insert them here so you can see (in case I don't have enough ink in my printer to print them out right).
I imagine the top picture to be the front cover of the book, and the bottom picture to be the back cover. The back is my favorite - I love the images and the overall visual effect.
For each of these pictures I need to have an attribution to the original artist so here is a link back to each photo's original page on Flickr.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Up and Coming Project
I am a slacker for not having posted yet; I apologize. Something about a 10 page paper and three midterms just tends to distract from the smaller stuff.
I've actually been really grateful for what we've learned thus far in this class. My 10 page paper is a misleading term - we actually had to create a paper that was the equivalent of 10-12 pages in a different style or form. I chose to create a website using GoogleSites, and it has been so great. Although the website is still under construction, I've been pleased with how its turning out - check it out here if you're interested.
For my Project in this class, I've decided to become familiar with Photoshop, Illustrator, and Picnik as the tools to create the final project. I want to have the assignment be to create a cover for the student's history book. They need to find images on the official public domain sites (discussed in class) or take their own, and then manipulate them in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Picnik to create an aesthetically pleasing potential book cover. They would be required to include something like 1 American symbol, 2 famous people (in statue or picture), 1 national site like a battlefield or the White House, and create a name for their text (The American Nation is the title of their book, so they can springboard ideas off of that).
I think this project will be really cool because they can incorporate history with technology and see how they can come together here. I imagine this as an end of the year project where we've learned about people, places, and symbols already.
I've actually been really grateful for what we've learned thus far in this class. My 10 page paper is a misleading term - we actually had to create a paper that was the equivalent of 10-12 pages in a different style or form. I chose to create a website using GoogleSites, and it has been so great. Although the website is still under construction, I've been pleased with how its turning out - check it out here if you're interested.
For my Project in this class, I've decided to become familiar with Photoshop, Illustrator, and Picnik as the tools to create the final project. I want to have the assignment be to create a cover for the student's history book. They need to find images on the official public domain sites (discussed in class) or take their own, and then manipulate them in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Picnik to create an aesthetically pleasing potential book cover. They would be required to include something like 1 American symbol, 2 famous people (in statue or picture), 1 national site like a battlefield or the White House, and create a name for their text (The American Nation is the title of their book, so they can springboard ideas off of that).
I think this project will be really cool because they can incorporate history with technology and see how they can come together here. I imagine this as an end of the year project where we've learned about people, places, and symbols already.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Copyright Laws
I find copyright laws to be occasionally frustrating. I liked our conversation in class about the details of copyright on the internet, but in some cases it left me with more questions. How do I know what the public domain is? If I do a Google image search, and use a picture I find is that okay because you've put the picture in the public domain? Can I cite it and be done?
I've always wondered how a copyright is obtained, as well. My sister-in-law wrote a message on her blog that all of her images were copyright so you couldn't copy and print them, but is that real? She owns the photos because she took them, but by placing them on a public blog she makes them public domain, correct?
As a student, and as a history student, every idea or fact that we use has to be cited. History professors are all about citations. I think this is a good because you are able to differentiate between the author's original ideas and the already known content. It's a hassle to properly cite with the commas, periods, and colons, but I understand its uses. I just don't like having to find a citation source for knowing the year of the War of 1812.
I've always wondered how a copyright is obtained, as well. My sister-in-law wrote a message on her blog that all of her images were copyright so you couldn't copy and print them, but is that real? She owns the photos because she took them, but by placing them on a public blog she makes them public domain, correct?
As a student, and as a history student, every idea or fact that we use has to be cited. History professors are all about citations. I think this is a good because you are able to differentiate between the author's original ideas and the already known content. It's a hassle to properly cite with the commas, periods, and colons, but I understand its uses. I just don't like having to find a citation source for knowing the year of the War of 1812.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Helps, Week 2
This week I finished my website, and am actually really impressed at how cool it is that I created a website. I mean, a blog is a website, but this is one with pages and different things and lots of information - so cool. I will definitely be using this "make your own website" feature for my own classroom.
As far as creating went, everything was pretty easy. The hardest part was the calendar - I learned that you can attach the calendar easily enough, but it won't work unless you have events scheduled into your calendar. Good thing to know.
For my optional add-in, I did a Picnik-ed photo collage of recent pictures of me. I don't ever get just my photo taken, so that was kind of boring that all the pictures are of me and my husband, but its okay. I love picnik so much - when I take pictures for people I typically do most of my editing there because it is so easy and so nice! For all of my pictures I use the Levels tool to get the lighting right - enough darks and lights. I also use a mixture of Ortonish, Cross Process, and Vignette-ing to make the pictures look the way I want them too. I also love the new seasonal features they put up - makes doing photos SO much fun and really easy.
Basically its been a good technological week!
As far as creating went, everything was pretty easy. The hardest part was the calendar - I learned that you can attach the calendar easily enough, but it won't work unless you have events scheduled into your calendar. Good thing to know.
For my optional add-in, I did a Picnik-ed photo collage of recent pictures of me. I don't ever get just my photo taken, so that was kind of boring that all the pictures are of me and my husband, but its okay. I love picnik so much - when I take pictures for people I typically do most of my editing there because it is so easy and so nice! For all of my pictures I use the Levels tool to get the lighting right - enough darks and lights. I also use a mixture of Ortonish, Cross Process, and Vignette-ing to make the pictures look the way I want them too. I also love the new seasonal features they put up - makes doing photos SO much fun and really easy.
Basically its been a good technological week!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Helps
Thus far, I haven't done anything with my website besides what we did in class. I do recall my computer struggling to open anything for editing, so I hope that my computer today is able to do that, or else I'll need to do it at home, which is okay too. I'll tell you what I do need help with - I need more time! One of those time turners from Harry Potter Book 3 would do the trick. I'd have one of me sleeping all day, one of me going to classes, and one of me doing all of my homework. Well, maybe two of me doing homework. Or three. Then I'd for sure get it all done!
And that is what I most need help with at this time.
And that is what I most need help with at this time.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Technology Resources
Of all of the programs we discussed in class last Tuesday, I will probably use the Google products the most in my instructional career.
Googledocs is a fantastic way to create group projects, and to help students who don't like to meet outside of class work on projects together. I for sure will use googledocs to facilitate groupwork and ideas.
The Google Calendar is a great tool as well - although I may use the calendar for my personal teaching use. It is a great place to see lessons and timelines come together. For the class I will have a website (be it a blog or wikispace) that will have a course calendar, course information, and links to online information that furthers class discussion. The nice thing about a blog is that students can comment on it and continue the discussion from class. However, I wonder how many students will want to continue the discussion - typically there has to be points involved for this to happen.
I also like Moodle, a place where I can put all of our documents we'll be reading online so that I'm not always printing copies and the information is all in a central location for students who missed class or are preparing for an exam.
I like the color design website, but I can't find a reason to justify its use in a history or english class. It is a good add-in on projects where students want their posters to be color-coordinated, but I just don't see it as super important in my class.
The MediaNotes website was really cool too - but I wonder how much I can make an 8th grader use it. As a college student I think its beyond amazing, but as a middle schooler? I don't think I'd see the value as much.
Googledocs is a fantastic way to create group projects, and to help students who don't like to meet outside of class work on projects together. I for sure will use googledocs to facilitate groupwork and ideas.
The Google Calendar is a great tool as well - although I may use the calendar for my personal teaching use. It is a great place to see lessons and timelines come together. For the class I will have a website (be it a blog or wikispace) that will have a course calendar, course information, and links to online information that furthers class discussion. The nice thing about a blog is that students can comment on it and continue the discussion from class. However, I wonder how many students will want to continue the discussion - typically there has to be points involved for this to happen.
I also like Moodle, a place where I can put all of our documents we'll be reading online so that I'm not always printing copies and the information is all in a central location for students who missed class or are preparing for an exam.
I like the color design website, but I can't find a reason to justify its use in a history or english class. It is a good add-in on projects where students want their posters to be color-coordinated, but I just don't see it as super important in my class.
The MediaNotes website was really cool too - but I wonder how much I can make an 8th grader use it. As a college student I think its beyond amazing, but as a middle schooler? I don't think I'd see the value as much.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Describe Your Experience with Technology; What Do I Hope to Come Away With?
I have experienced technology my whole life.
Growing up my siblings and I all had our own computers in our rooms. I grew up emailing, Google-ing, and MSNing, playing networked Warcraft II games, and using computers to complete many assignments. My parents had one of those brick cell phones for a long time, and then the phones got smaller and smaller. Our internet connection moved from dial up Juno to broadband Qwest.
After high school graduation I got my own laptop that I have filled with programs that I like to use - a ZSNES player for my Super Nintendo games, dozens of photo editing programs, and I'm now trying to get a DOS Box converter so that I can again play Warcraft II on my computer. I helped my roommates set up our wireless internet router, and a few years later helped my husband do the same thing.
A few years ago I became interested in blogging. Blogstalking was the gateway drug to this, and I have converted many friends to the blogging way as well. My friend taught me some basic html code stuff, and now I can create basic blog layouts like the one I've used here on this blog, using digital scrapbook pages and elements from here, among other places. I also have two other blogs that I write on; one for my personal journal use and one for my photography portfolio (see blog link on side).
Almost a year ago I figured out how to embed Youtube videos into my blog, and that changed my world. Seriously. Man I love technology.
To sum up, I feel pretty technologically savvy. I use webcams, Googledocs, Google Reader, and am learning how to use Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. Just this past fall I purchased Microsoft Word for the first time - always using Wordperfect 12 was getting to be too much stress. At work I use Excel, and lots of programs online from BYU to do financial transactions with the click of a button.
Basically it will be interesting for me to see how I can use all of this technology in the classroom effectively. That is what I am most excited about. I'm not expecting the internet to be re-invented for me, I just want to see how I can use it best for educational purposes.
Growing up my siblings and I all had our own computers in our rooms. I grew up emailing, Google-ing, and MSNing, playing networked Warcraft II games, and using computers to complete many assignments. My parents had one of those brick cell phones for a long time, and then the phones got smaller and smaller. Our internet connection moved from dial up Juno to broadband Qwest.
After high school graduation I got my own laptop that I have filled with programs that I like to use - a ZSNES player for my Super Nintendo games, dozens of photo editing programs, and I'm now trying to get a DOS Box converter so that I can again play Warcraft II on my computer. I helped my roommates set up our wireless internet router, and a few years later helped my husband do the same thing.
A few years ago I became interested in blogging. Blogstalking was the gateway drug to this, and I have converted many friends to the blogging way as well. My friend taught me some basic html code stuff, and now I can create basic blog layouts like the one I've used here on this blog, using digital scrapbook pages and elements from here, among other places. I also have two other blogs that I write on; one for my personal journal use and one for my photography portfolio (see blog link on side).
Almost a year ago I figured out how to embed Youtube videos into my blog, and that changed my world. Seriously. Man I love technology.
To sum up, I feel pretty technologically savvy. I use webcams, Googledocs, Google Reader, and am learning how to use Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. Just this past fall I purchased Microsoft Word for the first time - always using Wordperfect 12 was getting to be too much stress. At work I use Excel, and lots of programs online from BYU to do financial transactions with the click of a button.
Basically it will be interesting for me to see how I can use all of this technology in the classroom effectively. That is what I am most excited about. I'm not expecting the internet to be re-invented for me, I just want to see how I can use it best for educational purposes.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
