Reflection: Week 16

What?

This week in class we finished creating our Digital Story and worked on final touches. This class was probably my favorite class all semester because it was relaxed, but still productive. Next week, we have the presentation of our Digital Stories as our final for instructional media.

So What?

I am nearing the end of my degree and will be student teaching at Jordan High School this Fall. As I look back to my experience in the Education Program, I wish I would have taken this instructional media class earlier. I learned so much great information in this class that would have been beneficial as a student. For example, if I would have known about and how to use Google Documents last semester, I would have had a better experience completing group projects. It was convenient being able to use these tools in my classes this semester.

The reason this class is required for future educators is because technology is becoming extremely prevalent in our world. We need to know how to use basic applications on the computer and be aware of the Internet's benefits and dangers. As a health educator, it is important for me to teach my students about the dangers of technology such as internet predators, sexting, and pornography. But, it is also important to teach them how to find reliable sources of research and let them discover helpful websites, like the Utah Education Network. I know what we learned this semester is important and I plan to build on and educate students throughout my teaching career.

Now What?

This class was definitely challenging and frustrating at times, but I learned so much and feel better prepared to be a teacher now. One unique attribute of this class is that I will continue to use and build on the technological skills I have acquired this semester. Many of the resources we found and tools we used in this class are ones that I will continue learning about. For example, I am confident that I will be using my Google Classroom Website in my teaching career. This website is extremely helpful to me and will be to the students in my classes. I am also excited to present my Digital Story, let my students learn and experiment with technology during my PowerPoint activity, and teach my students how to be safe using the internet.

I cannot express how glad I am that I was exposed to this information this semester. Not only have I learned how to use many specific computer applications, but I also feel confident that I have the skills and experience to "figure out" how to use applications that I may not be familiar with. I am excited to begin my student teaching experience at Jordan High School this Fall and hope I can be an asset to my cooperating teacher. My technological skills will give me a great benefit in the schools I may be a part of someday.

Video Reflection:

I believe students today are more in-tune with technology than most adults can comprehend. The video we viewed this week was called "Millenial Generation." I am not old, I only graduated High School four years ago, but this video surprised me. I was astounded by how much kids expect from technology. Most of them probably cannot imagine living without their cell phone, iPod, or the Internet.

More than anything, this video reassured my belief that as a teacher, it is imperative that I incorporate technology into my lesson plans. Most students will love it if I give them the opportunity to take out their cell phones in class for an educational purpose or if I allow their creativity to blossom as I instruct them to create a fun PowerPoint. I feel so blessed and grateful that I have been able to gain technology knowledge this semester because I now feel empowered to be a better educator in the classroom. I hope I will be able to teach my students about technology and how beneficial it can be to student success.

Reflection: Week 15

What?

This is the second week we have been working on our Digital Stories. This week in class, we were taught how to use “PhotoStory” on the school computers. Because I have a Macintosh laptop that I enjoy working with, my group is going to use the program iMovie instead of Photostory to create our Digital Story. Nothing is due next week, but Doc. Waters recommends having our Digital Stories complete so she can preview them. Our group can then make any corrections needed to perfect our final project.

So What?

The most valuable skill we acquired this week was learning how to use the application Photostory on the school computers. This application allows us to create a slideshow using music, pictures, voice recordings, and even video clips. Learning how to use this tool was much easier than I had anticipated. Because I enjoy using my Macintosh computer over a PC, I have been discovering how to use iMovie this week. iMovie is an amazing tool that I am excited to learn more about. Luckily, my husband knows how to use iMovie well and is teaching me how to become an expert at creating digital projects.

In my multicultural class this week, one of my peers created and presented a Digital Story to aid her in her book report presentation. The video she created made an impact on my learning experience. I became slightly emotional in class and could better relate to the subject she was teaching. After I saw this digital story, it motivated me even more to use technology to enhance my teaching.

Learning how to use these “movie making” applications has been enjoyable because not only is this something I can use for educational purposes throughout my teaching, it is also something I can use for recreational purposes. For example, my husband was able to create our entire wedding video using iMovie. Hopefully I will soon be able to create digital stories easily. I love learning about technology and plan to incorporate much of it during my teaching experience.

Now What?

Learning about digital stories will be valuable and meaningful in my future classroom. Digital stories can be created to address almost any health topic. This semester, my group chose to create our digital story on domestic abuse. Our story is turning out to be emotional and influential. Most likely, I will use this digital story to introduce domestic violence in my own class someday. By doing this, my student’s emotions will be surfaced and they will get to reflect on their own relationships and evaluate whether they are healthy or not.

Another benefit of creating digital stories is learning more about my content area. By simply creating this digital story, I have learned a great deal about the reality and dangers of domestic abuse. Creating digital stories and performing research not only benefits me, but it also benefits my future classroom. Through doing these activities in my class, my students will feel engaged, enjoy class more, and have the opportunity to reflect on themselves. Being exposed to this information about technology will make me a better teacher in the future.

Video Reflection:

After watching the video "Did you Know? 3.0," I started to think about the reality of technology expansion. Even in the past ten years, computers and the internet have become widely available for any use imaginable. Today, children are growing up knowing how to use technology as a means for entertainment and education and we (as teachers and parents) need to be aware of its advantages and dangers to protect and influence the future generation. As teachers, it is crucial that we know how to properly use technology in order to help our students utilize available resources used for education and also to help them know how different websites work in order to further their knowledge in this ever expanding, technological world.

I value what I have learned in this instructional media class. I feel that I am now more prepared to teach students and be current with the technology they are using. I feel this class has greatly benefited me and know that I could now figure out how to use almost any application on the computer because I have become familiar with many of them in this class. I have become a knowledgeable and reliable source for my future students to count on.

Reflection: Week 13

What?

This week we started our project on Digital Stories. In class, we viewed examples of various types of digital stories and brainstormed ways to use them in our content areas. Next week, we are to have our script written and our storyboards completed.

So What?

Because this is the "big" assignment of the semester, I have been slightly nervous to take on the challenge all semester. But now that we have started the project I realize that, like most other activities we have completed in this class, creating a digital story is not too difficult. It simply takes a lot of hard work and creativity. It is beneficial to be completing this assignment right now as a student because it will help me get familiar with certain applications on my computer, such as iMovie. Hopefully, through creating this digital story, I will learn how to better use iMovie and use it in future school projects. As a future teacher, it is imperative to learn how to create a digital story because this is an enjoyable, intriguing way to introduce or discuss important class topics.

Another important reason why we are completing this assignment is to help and encourage us as future teachers to research and learn interesting facts about our content area. As me and my group have started to create our own digital story on domestic violence, I have been able to learn some interesting statistics and discover some shocking stories about celebrities who have experienced this type of violence by their intimate partner or another loved one. Doing this digital story has helped me become more passionate about my content area and I hope to create more digital stories in the future so I become excited and motivated to teach those topics through technology.

Now What?

I honestly believe everything we have done in this instructional media class will help me become a better teacher. I have learned a ton about technology throughout the semester and this last project of creating a Digital Story is the icing on the cake. Although my group has not come far in the actual creation of our own digital story, I am excited about our idea to make it a moving and interesting video to introduce the topic of domestic violence. I hope to think of more ideas and ways to create other digital stories so I can share those with my future classes as well.

In my future classes, I do not anticipate giving much homework to my students unless the homework is applicable to their life or a good, worthwhile project. The creation of a digital story may be advanced for High School students, but creating a similar and simpler project would be meaningful. As I mentioned before, this project has helped me, as a health education major, learn a great deal about domestic violence and I think students would enjoy picking an interesting health topic to learn about and creating a simple digital story. Their digital story would contain similar components to the one we are creating now. I believe this would be an enjoyable, challenging final and performance assessment.

Video Reflection:

The video this week was titled "NASA Digital Story." Space, astronauts, and the moon have always been topics of interest for me, so I really enjoyed this video clip. I liked how this video caught my attention with interesting visuals and facts at the beginning and then talked about various astronauts. The video did a compelling job at displaying love and compassion for those astronauts who have sacrificed their lives to helping mankind learn more about space travel. I found myself captivated by the music and explanation of some life stories in the video. In my opinion, the video ended too soon. I feel this video was beneficial to watch this week because not only was this video enjoyable, but it also helped me understand which components make up a professional, entertaining, and informational digital story.

Reflection: Week 12

What?

This week in class we were introduced to the PowerPoint Activity. The description of this activity is different from past semesters because instead of presenting on two activities from our PowerPoint textbook, we created our own unique PowerPoint activity for our future classes. This activity is due next Wednesday, April 7, along with our podcast and vidcast.

So What?

The main reason we are doing this PowerPoint activity in our class is to get more familiar and intimate with the PowerPoint program. PowerPoint is a valuable classroom resource that most of us, as teachers, will be using all the time with our students. Before I started this instructional media class, I was able to make a basic PowerPoint presentation, but now I am able to do many more fun and exciting activities with my PowerPoint presentations. For example, I now know how to hyperlink, add pictures, sound, and movies to my presentations. Not only will this information help in my future teaching career, but it helps me now as a college student because I am often making PowerPoint presentations for class projects.

In previous semesters, the PowerPoint activity was slightly different from what it is now. This semester, we get to come up with our own fun, creative PowerPoint activity to use in our future classroom. What is even more exciting, is that Doctor Waters is giving us the opportunity to be able to publish our PowerPoint activity in her textbook that she is currently writing. "Doc" Waters is having a competition between the students to see who can come up with the best, most creative activities to be published in the textbook. This competition is motivating because it would be greatly beneficial to have an educational publication on my resume.

Now What?

All the information I have learned about PowerPoint this week will definitely benefit my future students. I really enjoy the PowerPoint activity I made this week and am excited to utilize it in my classroom someday. This assignment in particular is important for my students to complete because not only will they be learning about an important health topic, but they will also be using their creativity, interacting with their peers, and learning how to make a professional PowerPoint at the same time. I hope to share this idea and lesson plan with my fellow health educators so we can collaborate and develop an effective lesson plan.

My current schema has developed greatly throughout the course of this class. I never imagined that I would be excited about having a classroom website or understanding the intricacies of google and the UEN website, but now I am starting to understand how enjoyable and easy technology can be. Because of all the risky information that exists on the internet, I came into this class being skeptical about using its resources. Throughout the past few weeks when I have learned how to stay safe on the computer and how to develop valuable learning tools like podcasts, vidcasts, and PowerPoints, I have come to realize that all these tools will only enhance my lesson plans and teaching skills, not hinder them.

Video Reflection:

The video we watched this week was titled "How Not to use PowerPoint." This video was a nice change from the other videos we have viewed this semester because it was a comedy about PowerPoints. I feel that being a part of the education program here at Utah Valley University has made me more critical as I watch presentations. Whenever I watch one of my peers present a lesson, paper, or project, I always critique them and think about what they are doing wrong or what they could do better, especially while viewing PowerPoints. The man in the video this week basically presented all the mistakes that should not be in a PowerPoint presentation, but are mistakes that we see all the time. For example, when people make a slide and verbalize exactly what they have written on the slide. This act is unprofessional and boring for the audience. I love making PowerPoints and believe I have a real talent for it, so I enjoyed the humor in this video. I feel this video was beneficial, educational, and enjoyable at the same time.

Reflection: Week 11

What?

This week in class we discussed podcasts, vidcasts, and videos. We learned how easy it is to make podcasts and vidcasts, and brainstormed ideas of how to use this technology in our own classrooms. We also learned how to rip music and videos from youtube or Teacher Tube using specific websites. Next week, our video that we ripped and made into an mp4 is to be posted on our Google Classroom Website, but our podcast and vidcast are not due until the following week.

So What?

I love learning how easy it is to use computer technology. Before this class started, I never imagined how simple, easy, and fun it would be to create technological projects on the computer. The activity I am most excited about this week is podcasts. In health, I know I could use podcasts for many activities like relaxation techniques, exercise ideas, safety tips, and record positive self-talk/ways to increase self-esteem. Both my students and I would enjoy working with these recordings.

Learning about podcasts helps me today as a student because I have realized that almost any topic I could ever imagine has a podcast associated with it. Podcasts exist on both entertaining and educational topics. If I want to learn more about healthy relationships, diseases, or study strategies, I know I could find a podcast to help me learn more it. I learn best by interacting with my environment and I feel like podcasts help my mind relax and learn by doing.

Now What?

I know that everything we are learning in this class will help me become a better teacher. The more knowledge and experience I have with technology, the greater advantage I will have with my students because I will get to differentiate my lesson plans. I know that most students enjoy using technology in school and would appreciate my efforts to help them learn through tools like podcasts and vidcasts.

Technology is not going to slow down in this world. The funny thing is, most teachers do not seem to realize this reality. Every time I have completed field experience throughout my courses in the education program, the teachers I have worked with have not been current with technology. Sadly, most of the teachers I have worked with have barely even known how to use the Internet. As a young student eager to teach in middle or high school, I know that learning how to use technology in the classroom will provide me a great advantage. My goal is to get so experienced with technology and the computer that I could even teach my fellow teachers how to use these incredible tools. If technology is used safely and properly, it is a great way to collaborate and communicate with co-workers, students, and parents.

Video Reflection:

This week the video we watched was titled "Why Let our Students Blog?" In middle and high school today, I do not know how many teachers are incorporating blogs into their lesson plans. It seems like it would not be popular for teachers to use blogs often because they are new and many teachers who are intimidated by technology may be nervous to use them. I think blogs are beneficial to use in the classroom. Like the video said, blogs can be used for multiple reasons including to communicate, collaborate, discuss, practice writing skills, and help students feel a sense of ownership, responsibility and empowerment in their life. One of the main reasons I would like to use blogs in my own classroom would be for student reflection. With health as my content area, I think students would benefit by being able to reflect on their actions and analyze the healthiness of their actions and decisions. Blogs are a wonderful new technology and I hope to be able to use them in my classroom someday.

Reflection: Week 10

NO BLOG DUE THIS WEEK

Reflection: Week 9

What?

This week, class was canceled in order to make it easier to collaborate with our group members and complete the webquest Key Assignment. Our final webquest is due next Wednesday, March 17th.

So What?

From the time we started this webquest until now, I have gained an appreciation and excitement for this type of learning activity. Like other assignments we have done in this class, I was overwhelmed and frustrated when we began the process, but now that it is finished I am glad to have improved my computer skills. To me, the most beneficial part of this activity was getting more familiar with powerpoint and google sites. I now know how to hyperlink webpages onto my powerpoints, create a smooth navigation system, and license my work so I can collaborate with other health educators.

I had the opportunity to complete my field experience this week in a middle school. Part of my field requirements was to teach a lesson, so I used a powerpoint to assist in teaching this seventh grade class about eating disorders. At the end of the class period, I was interviewing this teacher (Mrs. Wardrop) for my "Secondary Technology Interview." I quickly realized Mrs. Wardrop was not advanced in working with technology and she must have sensed that I am fairy good at working with technology. After the interview was finished, she asked if I could help her learn a few things about powerpoint. I was excied when she asked because I have been working closely with this application for a few weeks now. I showed Mrs. Wardrop how to change the background, format, font, and transitions on her slides. I also showed her how to add pictures (and cite them) on her powerpoint. Mrs. Wardrop was so excited and grateful to learn this information and I felt a sense of pride in being able to help her. Because of this webquest, I will now be able to help my friends and family be more familiar with powerpoint and create high-quality presentations in the future.

Now What?

While I was completing my field observations, I realized that the teacher I was observing hardly used technology at all. This teacher was a little bit older, she was probably in her fifties. She would use overheads occasionally, but most of the time she would simply talk while her students took notes. Since I have been in the education program, I have learned so much about how students learn and I know they do not like to learn simply by being "talked at." It is crucial to be knowledgeable about technology so I can incorporate movies, music, powerpoints, webquests, etc. into my classroom to engage every type of learner.

Even though I do not love to use powerpoints to teach, I do think they are more beneficial than using overheads. powerpoints are so much fun because pictures, movies, and special effects can be added to the presentations. I also like Powerpoints because it is easy to update information if it is needed. With overheads, you are stuck with the same information until you find the energy to re-type a paper, print it, and then take it to a copy center to make a transparency. I am excited to keep working with and discovering effects on powerpoints in order to benefit my future students and collaborate with my fellow health educators.

Video Reflection:

NO VIDEO REFLECTION DUE THIS WEEK

Reflection: Week 8

What?

This week in class, we covered "Webquest 2" and "Webquest Final." We discussed the importance of this Webquest because it is a key assignment in the education department. We also discussed a few other components of this assignment, like the peer reviews, and Webquest rubric. Our completed webquest is not due this Wednesday, but the following Wednesday, March 17.

So What?

One of the key components of this assignment that I learned this week was how to turn this assignment in properly. I learned that there are two versions of PowerPoint that must be used throughout this assignment. One version is ".ppt," which allows others to see and edit information on the presentation. The other version is ".pps," which means viewers can only see the PowerPoint, but they do not have the ability to make any adjustments to it. This information is vital to understand because this is a group project, and others need to be able to have the ability to edit the work.

Understanding this information also helps me in other classes because I am often collaborating with my peers on lesson plans and schoolwork. Just this week, one of my peers wanted to "see" a PowerPoint I had created for a student teaching experience. I e-mailed her this PowerPoint in a ".ppt" format, which was a mistake because she did not only want to see my presentation, but she erased my name off the front page and typed her own. I saw her do this and told her that it was not okay because I had spent many hours on this project. I am in favor of collaboration and I think it is necessary in education, but this peer was copying my work and calling it her own. Now I know in the future, that I need to be extra aware of the format my PowerPoints are in before I send them to others.

Now What?

Even though we were mostly reviewing the Webquest assignment in class this week, it was helpful to refresh my memory and learn more details about what components make a good PowerPoint and the importance of key assignments. In the education program, we are required to create a portfolio of all our key assignments before graduation. Although this is a long and difficult process to go through, it is beneficial to our teaching experience. Through these key assignments, we are able to reflect on the progress we have made as educators, share our best work with others, and have material available if future employees are ever curious about the projects we completed in college.

School can be difficult, but it is incredibly rewarding. Each week, I struggle through completing tests, papers, projects, and activities in school, but it is always worth the effort. Learning how to create webquests is one of the projects that has been a little stressful. I may not even use webquests often in my class, but I can promise that I will be using PowerPoint a great deal, which is the major reason I am glad we are completing this project. Both my future students and I will benefit from the knowledge I gain in this instructional media class.

Video Reflection:

In a perfect world, everyone would be offered equal education. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people on our planet who receive no or low-quality education. I was inspired by the video we watched this week, "Education for All," which showed that is is possible to reach out to countries where schooling is not available. Because of technology, we are much more capable to offer education to those unfortunate countries that might not have enough resources to conduct proper education. This technological advancement is amazing and will benefit many knowledge-hungry souls. One of my goals as a teacher is to make each student feel important and cared for in my class. I would love to have an opportunity to teach my content through technology and be able to make a difference in not only my students who are in my physical classroom, but students all over the world.

Reflection: Week 7

What?

This week in class, we started our three-week project on the webquest. We learned what a webquest is, how PowerPoint works, and got into groups to start creating our own webquest. Next week we should have our introduction, conclusion, tasks, process, and objectives completed.

So What?

As a teacher, it is important to create lesson plans that assess in a variety of ways. All of our students will learn and perform differently so we must give every student the opportunity to do what they enjoy. I can definitely see the benefit of incorporating webquests into my lesson plans. Although they take a lot of work to initially begin, they are enjoyable for students. Students will love feeling like they have control over their own learning and playing the role of an adult during the quest.

I believe the main reason we are learning about webquests is for the benefit of our future students. I cannot see myself using this much in other classes unless I had the assignment of creating a webquest, but I know this is beneficial to learn. One main benefit of doing this assignment is to get familiar with PowerPoint. I will learn a lot about this program through creating my webquest and PowerPoint is a program that I use frequently as a student. I am looking forward to improving my PowerPoint skills.

Now What?

Every day I dream about becoming the greatest health teacher my future school will ever know. Because I think about this constantly, I am always making mental notes as to how each assignment can benefit my teaching skills and how it will help me reach my highest potential as an educator. I know that everything we have done in this class so far will greatly assist me in reaching my goals of becoming a great teacher. My students are going to benefit the most from my knowledge of technology, but their parents will also appreciate it.

Even though I feel like I probably will not use webquests a lot in my future class, I think it is important to have at least one per semester. As I said before, it is important to teach and assess in a variety of ways in order to engage every student and to keep lessons exciting and fresh. Kids today are surrounded with technology. They use it constantly for entertainment and education. Even though I was not raised like kids are today, I feel that I am knowledgeable enough about technology to educate my students about its uses, benefits, and dangers. I know it is important that I not only teach them those things, but let them experiment with technology in a safe environment. With an assignment as simple as a webquest, I will be able to give my students that opportunity.

Video Reflection:

This video called "Surface Computing" honestly amazed me. I can't believe how far our world has advanced technologically. Surface computing seems like the kind of device that would only exist on movies, but now it is in the real world ready for us to use. Although surface computing is incredible and may be "the next big thing," I am not partial to it. I already think we have too much technology in this world because people are getting worse and worse and interacting with each other. It seems like most people have to be entertained all the time with some kind of technology. Many people would agree that it can be nice to sit around the coffee table in the family room and have a real discussion with real people, but if everyone gets a surface computer, that will become the topic of discussion around any coffee table.

My Beliefs

I have to admit that before I started instructional media this semester, I thought technology would be a minimal part of my class. Sure, I thought I would use a computer to enter student's grades and maybe show a few movie clips in class, but I never realized how much of an advantage technology can be for student learning. I now realize how important it is to teach kids in a way that is modern and enjoyable. Plus, there are many resources and tools available online to help my students succeed in school. I hope to be able to help my students locate and utilize those resources in order to be computer literate. After I watched the “Millennial Generation” video, I could not believe the kinds of things kids want and expect from technology these days. They expect to be able to have technology with them all the time. As an educator, I believe that is unhealthy behavior, but if that is what kids want, they will probably get it and I want to help those kids be safe and use the internet for good activity.

The video “Shift Happens” really made me think about how much technology exists in our world and how crucial it is that we are knowledgeable about its uses. To think that the Internet reached an audience of 50 million people in just four years boggles my mind, but it is reality and we need to teach our students how to keep up with the quick transformations our world takes. I discovered through reading the Nets Standards and taking the UNI survey that my knowledge about computers and technology probably is not quite where it should be, but that is why I am in this instructional media class. I have already learned a ton and am enjoying all the fascinating ways to utilize technology. Hopefully by the end of the course, I will have the ability to teach my students to do the same.

Lessons Learned

In our ever-changing world, it is important to keep up with technology and the advantages it offers. It is important to integrate technology into the classroom and I believe that most students enjoy learning this way because that is what they understand and that is what they are used to. Through the article called "Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum? The Reasons are Many" I learned that technology in the class must support four key components: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts. All these components combined can create a positive classroom environment where quality learning can take place.

We are constantly exposed to multiple types of media whether it is television, the internet, radio, or cell phones. Through reading the articles and watching the videos this week, I learned that as educators it is important that we teach our kids how to use this technology properly, but it is also important to teach students how to communicate face-to-face. Today, students are used to communicating in a passive-aggressive manner. If they want, they almost never have to confront a person to discuss a feelings, problems or conflicts. This worries me because I do not want my own children to grow up in a world acting like robots. My ultimate goal as a teacher is to be able to teach my students how important it is to be computer literate, but also the necessity of being able to communicate in the real world.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Throughout my college years, I have had the opportunity to integrate technology into my education. At first I was intimidated by technology, but because I have had the opportunity to use it in so many of my classes, I now prefer it over other materials. I still feel like there is a lot to learn about computers and technology, but I am definitely on the right path. According to the NET and UNI standards, my greatest areas of strength include; basic technology operations and concepts, a general knowledge of technological terms and vocabulary, and using the internet to communicate with others. Although I feel comfortable in most areas of technology, there are a few weaknesses I have as well. These weaknesses include; using spreadsheets, using/editing music and videos to produce projects, and using word processing and print layout designs to compose certain documents such as brochures, newsletters, and calendars.

I definitely want to be the kind of teacher who integrates technology into the classroom and assigns enjoyable activities for my students to complete. For example, as a health educator I would like my students to make a brochure displaying ways to relieve stress or displaying why drugs are harmful. But, if I do not even know how to make a brochure, how am I going to teach my students? I found this helpful online tutorial that explains how to make a brochure in a word document. I also feel like spreadsheets are something that would be beneficial for me to understand how to use in order to problem solve more easily. I found this Professional Development Workshop through UEN to assist me in my understanding of excel and spreadsheets.

This online tutorial and Professional Development Workshop will greatly help me improve my understanding of technology. Through these courses, I will be able to actively learn and discover how to become a better educator. Because of this instructional media class, I now know how simple and easy it is to access assistance with any kind of technology issue I may have. I plan to take advantage of many of UEN's Professional Development Classes because they will help me become smarter, a better teacher, and have the ability to easier understand and help my students with their own technology questions. Technology can be intimidating to work with, but in our modern world it is ultimately beneficial to know how to use it.

Internet Safety Reflection

With regards to the Internet, the positive elements definitely outweigh the negative. Although the Internet has a lot of risky and unsafe content, it is also full of reliable, educational information available at our fingertips. We are so lucky to have access to any content we would like to learn about, which can be accessed at anytime, anywhere. Our world has advanced so much because of what we have been able to learn through the web. I definitely believe the Internet is a major advantage we have in education. As long as its users are aware of how to stay safe and how to avoid inappropriate material online, the Internet provides a major educational advantage.

Evaluation of websites is very important. We should evaluate the sites we use on the Internet for our own safety and the safety of the computer. Unfortunately, there are many sex predators online searching for people to harm. If personal information is given to those predators, innocent victim’s lives may be affected forever. Also, it is important to evaluate the sites we use in order to avoid viruses that could ruin computer software.

Through the assignment this week, I was able to discover important steps to evaluating websites, which is great because I have never had my own method to make sure a site is safe. My new favorite way of evaluating sites is through the "Five W's." The Five W's are evaluating the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of each website. If legitimate answers can be found to these questions, the site is usually safe. I plan to teach these important Internet safety tips with my students.

The most important way to keep my students safe while surfing the Web is by teaching them about Internet safety. If I can teach my students how to evaluate a site to make sure the content is appropriate, they will have a good experience learning through technology. I know that if I can learn how to stay safe on the Internet and teach my students to do the same, we will have a more positive class environment and each of us will live a better life staying away from the potentially harmful effects of the Internet.

Reflection: Week 6

What?

This week class was canceled, so we were directed to study the topic of discussion on our own. Through the information on the class website and my own investigation on this week's assignment, I discovered that we are learning about internet safety. Because the internet provides many inappropriate web pages, this is an extremely important topic to learn about and be aware of as an educator. The assignment we were given to complete this week is to learn about internet safety through a WebQuest.

So What?

The internet is a wonderful tool in our modern world filled with many educational resources to help us gain knowledge. But, the internet can also be risky because there is so much harmful and pornographic material freely available, even when we are not searching for it. As educators, we need to be able to identify which websites are safe for our students and which should be avoided. Through the assignment this week, I was able to discover important steps to evaluating websites, which is great because I have never had my own way of making sure a site is safe. My new favorite way of evaluating sites is through the "Five W's." The Five W's are evaluating the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of each website. If legitimate answers can be found to these questions, the site is usually safe. I plan to teach these important internet safety tips with my students.

Learning how to be safe on the internet is a valuable life skill. We are constantly surrounded with technology in our world and need to be aware of its functions. Knowing how to be safe on the internet will not only help me throughout my remainder in college, but in my future career, and for the rest of my life. This internet WebQuest is a useful assignment to complete right now because if we do not know how to be safe on the internet, how are we going to protect our students?

Now What?

I know the internet will continue improving its contents, which also means it will continue being polluted with harmful material. I also know that some of my students will know more about the internet than I do and I consider it my job to advise them how to use caution and judgment with the sites they encounter. As a health educator, one of my core objectives is to teach students about internet safety, and I now feel prepared to take on that challenge. I want my students to be able to stay away from any harm they may encounter online and know how to make wise decisions about the information they offer.

Before this week, I had no real process of my own to evaluate websites. I would sometimes even click on a website with one eye closed to make sure I was not being exposed to information I should not be viewing. That felt very unsafe and made me uneasy every time I browsed the internet. Now, I know it is important to evaluate a website through using specific techniques and have the skills to do it. This information will definitely help me to be a better teacher so I do not encounter any risky information that might jeopardize my job. I know that if I can learn how to stay safe on the internet and teach my students to do the same, we will have a more positive class environment and each of us will live a better life staying away from the potentially harmful effects of the internet.

Video Reflection:

The video we watched this week was entitled "Internet Safety Movie" from TeacherTube. The video presented several rules to follow to ensure safety while browsing the internet. I liked the simplicity and directness of the rules because they were easy to understand, but full of impact at the same time. One part of this video that affected my emotions were the pictures of little children playing on the computer. Like it or not, we need to realize that we live in a world where technology can be used by anyone of any age. I now realize how important it is to educate students and children at a young age of ways to stay safe while surfing the internet. If we can do that as educators, our students will have a much better experience using the internet as a resource and for entertainment.

UEN Reflection

All the available tools and resources on the Utah Education Network have amazed me. When we first started learning about this website in class, I was not too fond of it because it appeared overwhelming and confusing. But, over the last two weeks of working with the UEN website, I have become much more familiar with the layout and am excited about all it offers. Some of my favorite tools are the student interactive games, lesson plan ideas, virtual tours for students, and parent resources. As an educator, it is comforting to know that this site contains 100% safe content.

The first time I discovered UEN was when I was researching the core curriculum for health educators. I was satisfied to find it so easily and be able to access it almost any time I needed it. The health core curriculum is ideal for the health educator. It contains pretty much everything I would ever want to teach my students, from nutrition, to mental illnesses, to safety, to human sexuality. I was also excited to find so many enjoyable and creative lesson plans available at my fingertips. Throughout the past five months, since I have officially been in the education program, my focus has been on creating fun, engaging, creative lesson plans and it is nice to research UEN’s ideas to enhance my classroom content.

One part of the Utah Education Network that I will for sure use in my future classroom is the student interactive games. In the health content area alone, this site offers 35 interactive games for students. I have explored a lot of them and they have all been fun, engaging, and informational. I hope that once students discover these games, they can explore them and gain knowledge in their free time, rather than playing on a risky website. One of my main goals as a health educator is to teach students how important it is to practice Internet safety because there are lots of available, harmful sites that can easily ruin a person’s life.

Another part of the UEN website I enjoyed learning about was the Pioneer Library. I was impressed with the Pioneer Library and all the educational links available through this site. My favorite links on the Pioneer web include culture grams, emedia, and the newspaper links. I find these links all appealing because they can be used with any content area and the students will enjoy using technology to learn. I have to admit that I am most favorable of emedia on the Pioneer Library because it provides teachers with informational videos free of charge. I believe movies can be a great asset in the classroom every once in awhile, but most of them are costly. With a teaching career, it may be difficult to access expensive videos. Also, I believe students will enjoy being able to access the videos at home as well. Overall, I really enjoyed learning about the UEN site. I hope to continue learning about this site so I can teach my students how great of a benefit it is.

Note: This blog should not be counted late. I talked to Doc. Waters about it and she said it was optional to post on my blog. I'm not sure if this is what other students are doing or not because there was confusion with the substitute last week. Notice that I DID get my weekly reflection (5) in on time.

Reflection: Week 5

What?

This week in class, we learned more about the Utah Education Network website. The entire website made more sense to me this week because it was our second time covering its contents. Through discovering this site, I was impressed with all the tools available to Utah educators for enhancing the classroom. We were assigned to create our own UEN website for a future class using the tools offered on UEN. This assignment took a long time to complete and was a little confusing, but worth it in the end.

So What?

Even though it was difficult to learn how to create my own UEN website, I am glad to know the information. I never realized how simple it is to put links on a website to access other pages, movies, or music. It is fun knowing how to do these tasks and I am excited to apply it when I teach. I know this knowledge will help me as an educator, and it is even relevant now as I am working on developing my own lesson plans and searching for high-quality content to create my ideal classroom.

The UEN website can be used often in middle and high school classes because it offers valuable material in every content area. My content area is health and one of my favorite parts of the UEN website was the interactive games. Every game I played was educational, engaging, and fun. I will definitely be using some of them in my future classroom. Another great discovery I made on the UEN website is the links for lesson plans. Although I enjoy making my own lesson plans because I like to customize my class discussions, the lessons UEN offered were still fun to investigate because they gave me fresh, innovative techniques to assist in teaching my curriculum. The health core curriculum involves all necessary aspects of health, from nutrition to abuse to human sexuality. The Utah Board of Education recently revised the health curriculum and I believe its revisions made the goals and objectives ideal. I love that the curriculum is posted on the UEN website because that will always help me stay on track as a teacher, keep me updated with any changes made, and it holds me accountable to teach what is recommended by the state. I was impressed with the pioneer library and all the educational links available through this site. My favorite links on the Pioneer web include culture grams, emedia, and the newspaper links. Other areas of interest on the UEN website include the parent resources and the professional development courses. I hope every teacher in Utah knows about the UEN website, accesses it often, and takes advantage of the valuable material it offers.

Now What?

Like it or not, we are now living in a world that is dominated by technology. I know what it feels like to be in a class where the teacher is anti-technology and I do not want to be one of those teachers. I believe the reason most teachers do not incorporate technology into their classrooms is because they are either intimidated by it or simply unaware of how to use it. I have never been a computer whiz, but now that I have discovered how multiple websites work, I feel like I would be able to figure out how to use many more websites. The internet is simpler than most people think. I plan to inform my future colleagues about the Professional Development Courses offered through UEN in order to learn more about the advantages of technology in the classroom. I am excited to continue learning about the value of technology so I can use it in my future classes. Students enjoy when teachers are current and up-to-date with their skills, so I bet they would appreciate the use of computers, the internet, movies, and music in school.

If all teachers were educated on how to utilize resources like google sites, UEN, and Pioneer Library, I believe more engaged learning would take place at school. Today, students play with technology more than ever and they would enjoy knowing how it can enhance learning and understanding. I love the UEN website because it is beneficial to students, teachers, and parents. Everything offered on this site is 100% safe and informative. I am glad to have discovered the Utah Education Network and am excited to continue learning about it through my own exploration.

Video Reflection:

Throughout my college experience at Utah Valley University, I have learned more information than I ever remember learning in High School. I really enjoy school, work hard to succeed, and feel that I earn the grades I receive. I thought the video we watched this week, "A Vision of Students Today," brought about all the negative aspects of school. Most of the problems presented in this video were because of student laziness or their choice not to involve themselves in class. Every student in college has a different life situation, but we are all students and should dedicate our focus to school while enrolled in college. One point brought up in the video is that students bring their laptops to class, but are doing other things on them rather than taking notes. I have taken my laptop to class a few times and I know it is harder to pay attention, so I stopped bringing it. Case solved. Another point this video brought up was the cost of textbooks. I do not think most students realize there are textbooks in the library available to check out. This way, you can still use it as often as needed, without spending so much money. Another student mentioned she would be $20,000 in debt by the time she graduated college. The government offers pell grants to help financially struggling students and there are many scholarships available if you simply put in the time and effort to apply for them. In conclusion, I did not like how this video was so depressing and negative, but it inspires me to be a better teacher for my own students to help create positive feelings about school.

Reflection: Week 4

What?

This week in class we learned about the many helpful tools and resources available on the Utah Education Network, also known as, UEN. We had a guest speaker come to class and to teach us how to set up our own accounts on this site and how to access materials we can only view as future educators. This guest speaker worked for UEN so he was very knowledgeable about the website. We did not have a specific assignment to work on this week, but we were instructed to investigate the UEN website to find useful tools for our curriculum.

So What?

As a future educator, it is extremely valuable to know how the UEN website works and to utilize the tools it offers. I had no idea how many resources are available for my content area through this website. Most of the material is even fun, interactive, informational, and free. Finding free materials for classroom use is extremely valuable because I am sure I will be spending a great deal of money on various materials needed for my classroom. At first I did not understand why we were doing this assignment because last week we learned how to make our own website through the google sites network. Next week we are going to create our own website on UEN, so I am sure it will contain similar information, but there are advantages to the UEN website. One of these advantages is that UEN is an approved website for all Utah educators. Most likely, parents will not complain about me creating a class website through UEN because it is state-approved and all of the content is highly censored and strictly for educational purposes.

I realize how important it is that I understand how to utilize technology in my classroom. Even though I am not fully "converted" to using the UEN material for my own classroom website, I know it is important to try and figure out how to create a site using this network. Once I know the basics of various networking tools, it will be easy to figure out how different or new ones work, which will come in handy if I am ever required to use them throughout my career.

Now What?

My feelings have changed towards classroom websites. I used to think they were more of a hassle than anything, but now I have seen a lot of the advantages to using one of these sites in my own classroom. Having a class website offers comfort to parents, students, and collaborators so they know what material the teacher is covering in class, any homework or activities done while a student is absent, and gives the students the opportunity to further research a topic using safe, trustworthy links provided by the teacher. Another aspect I enjoy with the UEN website is that it allows students to be engaged through fun learning activities, interesting educational movies, and valuable class discussion content. I am excited to continue learning about the UEN website so I can create a site to use in my future classroom. I know both me and my students would benefit from this resource.

For right now, I still like using google sites better than UEN for my classroom website because I am more comfortable with the way it is set up. Also, it seems much easier to figure out how to improve the site on my own, rather than having to be taught how to do it. The UEN website is still a bit confusing to me, but we have one more class period to discuss how the website works and how to create a professional website. After I know how to use both these sites well, I will then decide which I will use in my own classroom.

Video Reflection:

After watching the video "Did you Know?," I started to think about the reality of technology expansion. Even in the past ten years, computers and the internet have become widely available for any use imaginable. Today, children are growing up knowing how to use technology as a means for entertainment and education and we (as teachers and parents) need to be aware of its advantages and dangers to protect and influence the future generation. As teachers, it is crucial that we know how to properly use technology in order to help our students utilize available resources used for education and also to help them know how different websites work in order to further their knowledge in this ever expanding, technological world. I hope to continue learning about computers and technology in this instructional media class so I can be a knowledgeable and reliable source for my students to count on.

Reflection: Week 3

What?

This week in class, January 20, we learned how to make "google sites." I was nervous to begin this assignment, but as Doc Waters walked us step-by-step through the entire process, it became easy and enjoyable. Next Wednesday, our own google site is due, which will be our future (hypothetical) classroom website.

So What?

To be completely honest, I did not understand why we were doing this assignment at first. I was thinking to myself, "I'm not a computer whiz, I don't understand the convenience of this website, this is too complicated to remember, etc." But then I started to create my Home page and began recording my future, idealistic job information. I have always wanted to move South, namely St. George, so I was pretending to be a faculty member at Dixie High School. I was searching for e-mail addresses of those teachers currently working at DHS so I could create a mock e-mail address, but I did not come across that information. What I did find though, was each of the teacher's very own classroom websites! I was surprised to find this because I did not realize how common these google sites probably are and how often they are used in secondary schools today.

I found all this information near the beginning of class on Wednesday and it really inspired me to work hard on my own google site to make it professional and clean so I can hopefully use it in the future. When I saw the innovative classroom websites of these Dixie High School teachers, it hit me that a lot of principals probably advise their faculty to create classroom websites for the convenience and comfort of parents and students. These sites are also helpful for other members of the faculty to gain ideas from other teachers and create fun learning activities.

Now What?

Google sites is a feature that I am definitely going to use in my future classroom. It is an easy and reliable way to inform students and parents of various announcements, updates, or homework there may be. I also really enjoy the "calendar" and "homework" features on my google site so if students are absent, they can easily see what they missed in class or be reminded of what will be due the following day. One feature I would like to add on my site is a page or link for students to view their current grades. In the future, I know this website will help me to be more organized and thorough and it will satisfy many parent questions about various homework assignments. Because students are so technologically advanced these days, they will also enjoy this unique feature.

This is an honest statement, I have never had so much fun doing a homework assignment. I was able to find some great health links and content that I will use when I am a teacher and I really got into the mindset of thinking and organizing homework. I found myself being excited to work on my website and being late to other obligations because I was having so much fun in the creation process. Throughout the last four days, my mindset has completely changed, concerning google sites, from thinking "this is stupid and I will never use this information" to "I can't believe I never knew the benefits of this google feature and I don't know how I could live without a classroom website throughout my teaching career!"

Video Reflection:

The video we watched this week was entitled "Pay Attention." I was not sure how much I liked it at first, but by the end I was starting to think of some great ways to engage my students through technology in my classroom. Although I think this video would have been a lot better if the music was not so dark and depressing, it was still full of great information that I am glad to have learned.

This video clip made me think of how engaging it would be to include tools like cell phones, blogs, and podcasts into my lesson plans. My content area is Health and I love it because it is so easy to be creative and unique with my class activities. After watching the video, I looked up a few Health podcasts that I might be able to incorporate into my classes and found some great ones that I think students would really enjoy. For example, I found some fun exercise routines, healthy food suggestions, and relaxation techniques. My students would really enjoy the variation of this assignment. I also liked the idea about letting students use their cell phones to contact people from other schools, states, or countries and asking them a few questions about their culture. Another way I can could use cell phones in my class is by letting students enter Emergency Hotline phone numbers while talking about safety or suicide, which would be beneficial to adolescents. I am excited to continue learning about technology in this class so I will be able to teach my students how valuable and educational technology can be.

Reflection: Week 2

What?

In class this week, we had the opportunity to learn a lot about the various features of Gmail and Google. Some of the things we covered in class include iGoogle, Google Calendars, Google Documents, Google Presentations, and Google Spreadsheets. Although I have worked with most of these programs before, I had never been taught how to correctly use them and all the awesome tools that are available for free usage. I am really excited to continue learning about and working with these programs, especially Google Documents. Not only is this program going to be helpful in the future, but it is helpful now while I am in the education program because we are assigned so many group projects and it is often difficult to meet together. The assignments we were given this week were the Welcome Letter through Google Documents and Classroom Rules Presentation through Google Presentations.

So What?

I have never been a computer whiz, but it has been a lot of fun learning about some kinds of technology I would have never discovered on my own. I think it is crucial for students going through the education program to take instructional media so we can keep up with current technology and utilize it in the classroom. I bet most of the students involved in the education program can do simple things on the computer like use an e-mail account and probably even a facebook account, but may not be aware of the many other features available to enhance classroom learning. In only two weeks of being in this class, I have realized how important it will be to stay current with other forms of communication, like twitter. I have now seen the advantages of twitter being used in a classroom when I never would have even thought about using it. Personally, I am not a huge fan of twitter, but I can see how students would enjoy using a different source of technology to ask questions or give feedback on a lesson.

As I previously stated, I am going to use these programs we discovered in my other classes this semester. I already mentioned how Google Documents has been a great discovery and I plan to use it throughout my college education and even to collaborate with colleagues in my future career. Another valuable tool I enjoyed learning about is the Google Calendar. I am a busy girl and my life is packed with tasks and events. Sometimes it can be hard to keep all of these straight while I am worrying about homework, extracurricular activities, birthdays, etc., but now, I will be reminded about any event I need to attend or any task I need to fulfill. Although I am still getting to know this program, I am excited about the advantages and assistance it is going to bring me.

Now What?

I was really nervous for this class at first because like I said, I am not a computer whiz. But if we keep learning about these kinds of programs, which I hope we do, this class is going to be enjoyable and I will carry the information with me into my career. My content area is health and I think another name for the class could be "life skills." I assume it is my responsibility to help my students understand their bodies, emotions, and help them learn how to figure things out on their own. I think it would be really fun and valuable if I could teach my High School students about the advantages of Gmail and Google. If I would have known about all of these programs previously, my college education could have gone more smoothly. I could then give my students various assignments using these tools, including research projects and PowerPoint presentations. This would help them develop interpersonal skills on working and collaborating with others. It would be really fun if I could even somehow figure out a way to give my students the opportunity to collaborate with out-of-state, or international High School students. I know my students would learn a ton by doing so and would probably remember the experience for their entire life.

I am anxious to start my teaching career and want to become the best teacher I can possibly be. I know if I can become more "techno-savvy," my students will be impressed with my skills and will enjoy learning through different methods. I can't wait to continue learning about technology and to use it often so I will be able to utilize its advantages in my own classroom.

Video Reflection:

I am proud to be an American. I am proud to live in a country where we are offered so much freedom, have the power to make choices, and chose where we want our life to go. I agree with the boy in this video, "I am What I Learn," in the fact that we can chose how to live our life regardless of our circumstances. I truly believe that you can do or become whatever you want by hard work, honesty, and perseverance.

I grew up in a well-off family and as the youngest of four older brothers. I was always the "precious princess" in our family who everyone assumed would just marry a rich man, never finish college, and live off of my husband's wealth. Because this used to make me so angry, I am showing them how I can work just as hard as them and be independently successful. As a senior in college, I have managed to get through almost all 4 years on scholarship with a high GPA. I plan to have a career and want to be a good example to my future children.

Although my situation could have been much worse, I think it is motivating to listen to such a young boy encourage success. So many people blame their failures on others, but we just need to realize that we are ultimately responsible for our own destiny.

Blog #1: Ideal Classroom Reflection

To be honest, my "ideal" classroom is something I have not considered until now. Throughout the week I have been thinking about my ideal classroom and it has helped me realize what I need to work on before I can become the ideal teacher and have my "dream job." I wish I would thought about this a long time ago!

My ideal classroom is located at Dixie High School in St. George Utah. I have always wanted to live somewhere warm and I think St. George would be the perfect location because it is not too far from my home in Draper, Utah. At Dixie High School, I teach 5 health classes, 2 aerobics classes, and the Dance Company. Because health is my main content area, I will describe this class in detail. The room I teach in is comfortable and welcoming. I have one wall that has huge windows all across it, looking out at the beautiful grass and tree landscaping of our High School campus. My room is decorated with various health-promoting posters, inspirational quotes, and lined with pictures of happy, healthy individuals. I know this is a positive learning environment for my students where they can feel safe and energized. My main goal in my health class is for the students to learn how to be good decision makers and live a healthy lifestyle free from avoidable illnesses and addictions.

My students are sophomores who are somewhat rowdy because they still feel like they are forced to be at school. Although they are a noisy class and sometimes hard to keep under control, they have kind hearts and a ton of personality. My students like to do learning activities, which I also enjoy because I hate to lecture. We do hands-on learning activities at the end of every week, but only if the students earn them by being "obedient" for several class periods before hand. My students have a real interest in the topic of nutrition, exercise, and human sexuality. I am guessing this is because their bodies are all changing right now and they want to know what is happening, but do not know who to ask about it. I love teaching these three subject areas and communicate the information to my students through overheads, assignments, quizzes, hands-on activities, webquests, researching various exercise/nutrition websites, and informational videos.

My students are mostly white with some racial differences. I can tell that a lot of them have parents who stay involved and interested in their lives because I get a few e-mails each week with parents asking about their child's grades and behavior.

My colleagues are wonderful at Dixie High School. Everyone is respectful of others' opinions and teaching theories, and most of the time we are able to collaborate and share ideas with one another to create a better learning atmosphere for our students. Overall, I love my job and though it is difficult and stressful at times, I would not change it for the world!

Video Reflection:

The video I watched this week was entitled "Do you believe in me?" As I began watching this video, I was quickly surprised at the content. A young, colored boy walked confidently on a stage in Texas in front of 20,000 Staff and Faculty members. This young boy asked the crowd if they believed in him and the audience went wild. He then asked if they believed in his classmates and the audience went wild again. This boy continued to explain how important it is to him that he believe in himself, as well as others believe in him in order to succeed in life. I loved how easily this boy captivated the audience by using his confidence and personality. I believe these factors caught the attention and affected the emotions of the audience more than an adult could have in a similar speech. Through watching this video, I realized how important it is as educators to love and support our students because we might be the only ones who do. We sometimes will not know a child's home situation and that is why we need to take on the responsibility to love the students like our own children and encourage them to graduate high school, get a college degree, and find a career doing something they love. This is the reason I want to be an educator. I want to make a difference in someone's life.