Week Six Reflection

Wow, the last six weeks have flown by!  I can't believe another class is done.  One more to get the MEIT!  Once again, this has been a very valuable class.  The text had a lot of important information.  I enjoyed reading it, but I really am glad you decided to stop having us do the questions.  I would concentrate so hard on finding the answers to the questions that I wasn't getting all the information that I was reading.  I think the best parts of the text were all the links plus the website, and sections in the green shaded boxes, where they gave us information about tools we can use and teachers' thoughts about different things.

The class itself was extremely helpful.  In week 1, I really enjoyed using Toon Doo.  It was easy to use and gave me new ideas of how I could use a tool like this with my students.  I'm not sure if I would use Toon Doo, or try to find something else for the students, but I will definitely use something like this.  I also liked the list of presentation programs that you had for us to look at.  I plan on taking advantage of programs like this for our Newbery and Wisconsin author reports next year.  In week two, the assignment with the different search engines was very helpful.  Its nice to know that there are alternatives.  Week 3 gave us the spreadsheet.  That was the most beneficial to me, because I had really never used one before for anything more than just a list of names.  Now that I am teaching again, I would like to figure out a way to use a spreadsheet to make my lesson plans.  In week 4 there were two things that stand out for me.  The Edutopia videos gave me a chance to see how different districts across the country are using technology.  They really opened my eyes!  I also enjoyed making the calendar.  It was fun, and if I can get my act together, I'd like to maybe use it on my IMC website when I get one made.  Thank you for all your help getting my calendar posted in the forum.  At least I know it wasn't totally my fault!  In week 5, aside from Sir Ken Robinson, once again, my favorite project was supplied by Google.  I really enjoyed making the Google site.  I wish I could use it for my IMC website, but we have to use a program purchased by the district.  Maybe I should review that program for you!!!!  But, I still would like to figure out some way to use it in my IMC.  Last but not least, week 6.  Although this was my least favorite project, it was probably the most informative, and will no doubt be of use to me sometime during my time as LMS.  I don't know how much input (there will be some) I will have on any big purchases, but I definitely know it will be helpful when I look at new free online programs to use with my students.  I'll know better what to look for and how to make the decision as to whether or not to use it.

Over all, this has been a very worthwhile class.  Everything we did is pertinent to what I do for a living.  Besides learning by doing, which is probably the best way I learn, I was also given many ideas of things to do in my classes.  Seems I was always thinking about how I could make it work for me.  After all my technology classes taken during this journey to become a Library Media Specialist, I can honestly say that my total fear of trying anything new on the computer, especially on the Internet, has gone away for good.  I truly appreciate all the projects we did and what I learned by doing them.  Hopefully I will be able to impress my staff with all the cool things that I want to try with the students!  Thanks Louis!  It's been a pleasure working with you.

Week Five Reflection

Everything that we have been learning directly affects how I would like to teach my classes, and in what I need to know in my role with technology.  I think the Technology Learning Plan (TLP) will probably be the biggest benefit this week, because it made me stop and think about what I already know and can do, versus what I don’t know or still need to work on.  It made me think about realistic goals that I can set for myself and how I will set about to accomplish those goals.  I will be needing to set goals in my job, and having talked about the TLP and having done a little work with it will be a huge help when it comes to doing it for real.

 I also think the exercise in evaluating software will be very valuable in my new position.  I will be expected to look at new software and eLearning tools,  (a new favorite), and the exercise this week will help me in knowing how other schools evaluate software, and that there are actual forms that school districts have come up with to help in this process.

 I enjoyed making the Google Site this week, and hope that in the future I will be able to incorporate Google Sites into my work.  I can visualize using it to to keep students in touch with class projects and assignments.  But, the big hurdle here will be to get the parents to let the students have a Google email account, or least, have a family email that the students can use.  I wonder if I could make a new Google account that I could use just for my students.  If I give them all the password, they should all be able to access the work in that account......right?!  Hmmmm, maybe I just answered my own question.  That would be cool!

So.....GO PACK!!!

Week Four Reflection

For the In Time Video,I looked at Habitats, by Jerry Gilliland and Terri Vennerberg, in the content area search results for technology.  I chose to look at the lower elementary area, and found the video for Habitats for third grade.  After loading RealPlayer so that I could watch the videos, I was able to watch the videos for each part of the lesson.  The commentary was helpful, but what I really liked was being able to watch and hear the actual teacher who developed the lesson teach it to her class.  Being able to watch and hear really helps to understand exactly what it is that she is trying to get her students to understand.  I think this whole In Time site would be useful to the teachers at my school.  This is a tool that I could give the teachers to help them in planning authentic lessons.  The part that would be most useful to me would be if I were to do the technology element of the lesson.  After watching the technology video, I have a better idea of what the author intended, and in turn I would be able to help the students to create the slideshow.  The Teacher in the video also used Enchanted Learning with the students to get some of the pictures for the slideshow.  We have Enchanted Learning at our school, so this is also a useful part of the video.  The content area video is also very helpful in showing how the standards fit into the project, and what the children will do to apply that standard in their slideshow.

Week Three Reflection

Happy New Year!  Hope every one had a wonderful holiday!  It always goes too fast.  Its been really nice having a couple of weeks to do all the work.  It was also wonderful not having to do the questions.  Thank you Louis!

It was an interesting selection of projects this week.  I'm glad I was actually forced to work with a spreadsheet.  I have never  used one before, and never  had a reason to use one, so I never really checked it out.  After viewing the videos and making the recipe, I feel that I at least have a start on working with them, and am not quite as shy to try it out again.  After talking with my study group, I have gotten several really good ideas for using spreadsheets.  I think I would like to try using it for lesson plans when I start teaching again.

I was a bit miffed with NetTrekker d.i.  Apparently, I don't have a library card for Stritch.  I thought my ID card was also my library card.  So, I couldn't use the Stritch NetTrekker.  I used the NetTrekker from my school, and went to the teacher resources, and that is where I found my spreadsheet lesson.  Once again, this was a good exercise for me, since I had no idea that NetTrekker offered this.  I was only aware of what was there for the students.

I thought the exercise with the lesson analysis and adoption worksheet was well worth the time that we spent on it.  I found a rather simple K-3 library lesson plan to work with, and then, with the help of my teammates, I think we did a pretty good job of taking an extremely simple lesson, with no technology involved at all, and gave it a fresh look with some simple but effective technology that can be used by all children K-3.  This would be a plan that I would be able to use with second semester K or probably 1st grade in my library.

Software evaluation is something that I haven't had much to do with yet.  Once I am a LMS, this is something that I will be much more involved with.

I am also glad we had the Skype connect with Louis.  Learned a few things there as well!  Always something new!!