Final reflection /Learning new technology for schools use.

As I went into discovering the technology assignments for the class I experience highs and lows as each one had its own rewards and its own challenges. 
The technology I enjoyed a lot was Infographic using Easl.ly. What I liked is the fact that I would put tidbits of information I was reading from a research website. I did my infrographic on the topic that I titled “Hispanics living in America.” I got so carried away fixing it and looking for more things to add that I lost track of time and ended up posting it late in my assignment box. I loved that assignment! Favorite for sure.

The technology assignment that excited me the most was Animoto, Telegami, and QR Codes. Wow, that was just an awesome assignment! I made a book trailer using Animoto and posted on Youtube then I had to tag it to a QR code. Now that was neat! I made the book trailer on a book of Roman times of a Jewish slave made to work for an aristocrats’ family and was sent to die in the lions’ arena. Very fun to make, got pictures for my Animoto video at Pintress and from different resources I found on Google. When I scan the QR Code to my book trailer it just was an exciting thing. Then with the Telegami I made an avatar talk about the book and asked the student to make a research about the Roman gladiators. I told people around me about the assignment and they could not believe I did it.

The one I had such trouble was the screencast. I could not download it to my computer. It took me what seemed forever to get it download to my computer. I travel to my brother’s house (which lives 30 minutes away in another town) to get it installed. Once I got it down I recorded the instructions on how to use a website but I keep making mistakes. They were little things such as forgetting my words or I pause too long, it was nightmare. I would have to record again and again till finally I got it right. I was not use to hearing myself and least to hear myself give instructions.

In my opinion what will be useful in the classroom was the QR codes. Several examples I found in Pintress and Google search, for example are, library book add-on, scavenger hunts, inform parents about coming events, access help for homework, qr stations for self-directed learning, cite sources they use for paper writing, and to tag it to books, videos and a word like “Good Job!” when they got a good grade and want to reward them. It was a great assignment, I shared it with my friends, family and co-workers, everyone in my way.  This will be not only exciting for the students but for  teachers because its  fairly easy to use. You can hook it up to any assignment, task, book, famous person, pamphlet, and teacher information. The possibilities are limitless.  

I enjoyed what I learned this past semester.  It has changed my classroom and how I think of using technology for lesson plans. I came out of this experience rich with knowledge not only what I learned but how valuable this will be for my future endeavors in education. I also enjoyed reading everyone's blogs. To see everyone's experiences and opinions was in itself instrumental to my learning. Everyone did such great jobs. I felt bless reading everyone's own journey with technology. I now feel I have something to give in collaboration to my future school teachers as a librarian.