Week 15 Course Reflection

a. Coming into this course, what was your level of tech skill? (remember the first week, where we rated ourselves on a 1-10 scale?) Did you find it easy to adapt to the ways we used technology in this class? What was difficult for you? What was easy?

At the beginning of the semester I rated myself a two on tech skill. I had a harder time early on and my assignments took longer than they should have because I was learning more about the computer than just what our assignment entailed. The most difficult assignment for me was creating a google drawing with a classmate. Since this was new to me, I needed to work at a slower pace. My partner was really fast and we were only given a short time to complete it. I felt that most of the assignments given during the second half of the semester were pretty easy.

b. What have been your favorite activity/assignment in class so far and why?

After playing around with google drive on my own time, I really enjoyed that and think my students would as well. I also enjoyed making a power point and think this would be a great way to present information to students. I enjoyed creating a blog and learning to use other teachers' blogs to gain teaching ideas.

c. Do you think you can easily incorporate your tech knowledge and skills into your role as a teacher?
Yes, I can definitely use the knowledge and skills I learned from this class into my role as a teacher. I need to continue exploring new ideas and improving on the things that I have learned. I am looking forward to using what I have learned into my classroom.

d. Out of all the tools we've  learned about so far this semester, which ones do you see using the most frequently as a teacher?

I will use the websites that we learned about to make online quizzes, games, puzzles etc... I will use the snipping tool and google drawing to help create teaching lessons. I will use pinterest and blogs to gather ideas to use in my classroom.

e. As we approach finals week, what do you want to know MORE about in Ed Tech? What are you still curious about?

I would like to learn and explore more online learning activities we as teachers can use in the classroom. I also would be interested in learning about options for classroom management using technology. As a teacher of primary grades, I would like to learn more ways to use technology to to help improve the reading abilities of children.

f. Do you think your level of tech skill/knowledge has increased so far this semester? If so, how?

I definitely think my tech skills and knowledge have increased this semester. Prior to this class, I only used the basics of the computer such as, Facebook, email, google etc... If there was ever something I needed that I did not know how to do, I would just ask one of my children for help. This class forced me to take the time to explore, experiment and master skills that I never tried before. Therefore, I am really glad that I took this class.

Lesson Plan Supplemental Materials

The students will learn about insects.  They will learn about the different body parts, what they eat, where they live, the role they play in the environment, and other interesting facts.  The students will work with a partner to make a poster including specific information about their chosen insect.  They will use clay to make a model of their insect showing the different body parts. The partners will then use story-bird to write a story about their insect. Throughout the unit, the students will have opportunities to use microscopes with pre-made bug slides and observe the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly.  
The students will develop abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.  They will learn the characteristics and needs of living things. They will compare and contrast. They will write clear sentences and paragraphs that develop a central idea.  

1.https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13w2D1QpWoU0N2pbtBSSkTT7ZgTGi84O1MriKbATl_yw/edit#slide=id.p

I would present this presentation to the students early in the lesson to teach them some of the basics about insects.  They also will be able to access it online on their own.

2. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aTy9gyw8uX0XMZMNbYl4svc4GHbbGMLFrLgyccm6swQ/edit

The students will complete this puzzle after they have seen the insect presentation.  These questions are similar to the ones they will have on their quiz which will help them prepare for it.

3. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1NxJtkpZepPtm4uTTf4hAhoAO9BCkOSnX7TIEk3-VQGg/viewform  

Since there are other assignments the students will be graded on during the lesson, this is just a quiz and not a test.  The quiz covers basic information they are expected to know by the end of the unit. The quiz will be taken online at the end of the lesson.