Loida Olivera

EDU 214 / fall 2017

Reflections

Assignment 1- Introductory Essay and Vark Scores

The introductory essay really set the tone for the commencement for the class. The strength of this

assignments was that all of the students got to know each other and also our learning styles from the

VARK scores. It was fairly easy to introduce myself to my peers and teachers. At first I felt that the

VARK scores might not be reliable but after I took the quiz I felt that it reflected my learning style well. I

also got to read my peers essays and got to learn more about them too. Word processing can be

implemented in the classroom by teaching the class how to open and create a document, how to navigate

in word and how to format word documents. VARK and similar quizzes can be used at the beginning of

the school year, this will help teachers assign seats accurately to that each table or section will have

diverse types of learners, diversity can really help for problem solving and group projects because you

implement so many different perspectives and styles.

Assignment 2- Classroom design using Word draw tool

This assignment was very fun and it allowed me to use my creative abilities. I was able to manipulate

pictures and my ideal layout for my dream class room. For many a visual is the best way to understand

what someone else is trying to describe. I felt very proud of myself for being able to put my imagination

on paper. The strengths of this assignment was that it pushed me to think outside of the box, I always

thought that word was limited to just word processing documents but I learned that it is so versatile with

the drawing tools as well. This can be applied in a classroom by giving students step by step instructions
on how to use the draw tool, showing them how to insert clip are and pictures also teaching them how to

format object in order to create something unique that they can print out.

Assignment 3- Flyer and award certificate

This assignment really started giving me experience and insight on the types of handouts and

announcements I would need to do in the future. Some of the strengths were that by creating the flyer, it

gave me an idea of the activities that I will be involved in in the future. In the same way the award

certificates made me brainstorm all of the kinds of recognitions that students receive and the choices

endless. Both of these documents were also really fun to create because they were my own and I could be

creative with them. A neat way to implement flyers is to have the students create funny wanted flyers

for different students birthdays or special activities. Award certificates can be implemented in class not

only as a teacher to student recognition, but student-to-student recognition as well for being good friends

or being extra helpful.

Assignment 4 Website scavengers hunt

The website research assignment was a challenging one for me. I kept finding myself second-guessing

answers a lot. It is so important to have these type of assignments, not only did the content help me to get

more informed about the CSN educational resources that were available to me. The website gave me a

good lesson on not cutting corners and actually research what is being asked. This concept can be

implemented for students that are learning something specific like the planets and create a website

scavenger hunt asking them to answer and navigate a useful website that will simultaneously teach them

about the solar system and the importance of research.

Looking for a computer on a budget was not easy. There were so many specifications to look for that it

was easy to miss a step, I tried to be extra careful to not miss any of the information required. The

strength was definitely the research aspect and getting to insight on how things are usually budgeted also

learning about computer features, durability and pricing helped me. The weakness was perhaps that there

was so many specifications that it was easy to miss one or two of the requirements. I would implement

this assignment in a classroom setting that would help me teach budgeting and computer components.

Assignment 6- PowerPoint

The PowerPoint presentation was fun and easy. I really enjoyed being creative when I made the

PowerPoint presentation. The strengths of this assignments was the ability to be creative and also

mentally prepared me for the types of presentations I would need to make as a teacher, such as

introductions, open house, new class orientation. I was able to add a personal touch by adding the layout

and content to my PowerPoint presentation. I would implement this in my class in the way of an

interactive game formatted like Jeopardy or Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Graphics and animations will

reveal the answers and points won.

Assignment 7 Excel and Grading scale

Having a finance background I have been exposed to excel for many years, I was able to do invoices and

pivot charts also run macros and so much more. For the first time I got to use it as a grading system. The

strength was getting familiar with excel which is such a powerful tool especially for grading and getting

averages for grades percentages. It can also serve as an organizational tool for teachers in list making,
lesson planning, handouts, financial or fundraising bookkeeping. For students it can be used to make lists

and record keeping it can also be implemented to solve simple math problems.

Assignment 8 Emerging technology and Assistive Technology.

There is a big difference between emerging and assistive technology. Emerging technology are the cutting

edge advance that complement lesson plans to enhance learning. While assistive technology is the

technology that helps people with various impairments and learning disabilities to be on the same learning

plain as other students it assists them and gives them confidence to be able to learn in similar ways as

others. With this assignment I was able to learn about new technologies assisting the blind or seeing

impaired I also learned about the idea of a flipped classroom and how the classroom can change entirely

by using technology. The strength in these assignments was being able to tell the difference and being

aware of the importance of both. I would implement emerging technology like iPad or other devices that

make learning fun and interactive by allowing students to play learning games apps.

Assignment 9- Prezi

This assignment gave you another prospective on presentation software. Prezi assignments strength was

being introduced to a new program that would help in presentations for the classroom. It really let me

compare and contrast Prezi and PPT. Prezi was very interesting and almost like a blank canvas, and the

presenter take the audience through a tour of their canvas. With Prezi the presenter is able to be more

created with modern graphics and layouts designs. It also seems that the information can be manipulated

better that PowerPoint and has to capability to be very 3 dimensional. I would implemented in the class

by showing students how to use the program and walking them through a simple presentation.
Assignment 10-

In this assignment I was able to evaluate 3 different educational software. The strengths for this

assignments were understanding the importance of research when implementing software in the

classroom. The first, was BrainPop which helps students become familiar with shorthand multiplication

problems with single or double-digits. This was a good tool, but not very user friendly at first. The second

was Prezi, the presentation program, helps students create presentations, which has built in templates and

ideas for design. This was an awesome and creative way to present different subjects. Last, as the Reading

Eggspress with is a website that helps students develop reading comprehension. I would implement these

programs BrainPop to polish math skills. Prezi I would give instructions on how to make a simple Prezi

presentation, and Reading Eggspress I would use it to help with reading comprehension, spelling and

grammar.

Assignment 11-

In this assignment I had to create a graphic organizer that would either help in the instruction or

organizing a lesson plan. I used Webspiration to complete my assignment. I made a vocabulary lesson

plan. The strength of this assignment is learning the importance or organization and also that visuals often

with staying organized. I really thought this was a neat assignment that I really enjoyed. I would

implement this in my classroom by making graphic organizers that are partially filled and students would

have to research to get the missing answers and fill in the blanks on the chart.

Midterm- Interviews and lesson plans

The midterm interviews were so valuable to my learning. I was able to interview a librarian and an

assistant principal about technology in their schools. Some of the strengths was being able to see the
many challenges that teachers face daily. I also learned about the present digital divide that exists in

schools today. There are schools that have a lot and other that dont have much. This project really

opened my eyes to the hurdles and challenges that teachers have to face. The firsthand insight that I

gained is priceless, I was very thankful for the opportunity. I would implement this concept in my class in

the way of independent research where students have to interview a friend or family members about their

career decisions and advice they might have for them.

Final- Script, Rubric, lesson plan

The final put all that I have learned into perspective. The strengths were implementing the constant need

for research, then writing out a lesson plan that would integrate technology in the classroom. I

experienced some hurdles when I couldnt immediately find the right lesson plan I had in mind. After

finding a lesson plan, I wrote a narrative script of how the lesson plan would play out in the classroom. I

created dialogue that included how I would introduce and implement the lesson plan. I also added the

necessary scenario of a student with special needs and how I would help the student complete the class

assignment. Finally creating a rubric that would assess how well the students preformed the task. If I had

to implement these in my classroom I would use the script as notes for my class room lesson, and the

lesson plan as a guide for that day. At the end of the school day I would use the rubric to grade the

students on their performance.

Educational Resources-

This is the final assignment of the class. I am very relieved to be done with all of my assignments. I was

able to find an article on several educational resources that can be used in the classroom. Some of these

resources include School Tube, a way to steam student videos for project and necessary assignments.

Kidblog is a blog geared towards students and enables them to improve writing skills. The Strengths of
this assignments was that it allowed me to learn about new educational recourses available to both

students and teachers. These will be useful in the future as I implement them in the classroom. I would

implement these and other resources by creating research projects that would make the students work in

specific resources specified.