When I opened the content files for module 4 in my Education class I was so excited. For this lesson we had to make a PowerPoint that would go along with our lesson plan we had made for the previous module. I haven't made a lot of PowerPoints but I have enjoyed each one I have made. I love being able to pick the background and animations I can use for the PowerPoint. The hardest part I had for the project was trying to give out steps for my lesson. I really didn't know if I was supposed to use the PowerPoint to teach my lesson or just explain it to a group of adults. Since my lesson was for the 3rd grade, you can see my problem. I decided to use my PowerPoint as a lesson for my 3rd grade "class". With that problem solved, I then couldn't decide on a background for my PowerPoint. I didn't like any of the standard backgrounds I found on the program. I decided I would look elsewhere for a background. My lesson plan was predicting the color that is found the most often in a regular size bag of M&M's. I decided to go to the M&M's website to see if I could get an inspiration. I found on their website you could make a background for your computer. I made a background and used it as my background for my PowerPoint. I thought it was so cute. After I figured out the background, it didn't take me long to have the whole PowerPoint made. It took longer to put all the required features in the PowerPoint than it took to actually make it! My finished PowerPoint is by far my favorite one so far that I have made. I am so glad my teacher gave me a challenging assignment.
After making this PowerPoint, I started to think about how I could incorporate multimedia into my other lesson plans. This is a big part of learning for today's students. They have grown up working on Ipods, computers, and cell phones. I realized I would need technology in all aspects of my teaching in order to be an effective teacher to today's technology driven students. I could incorporate technology by having my students work on their own PowerPoints. I really enjoyed this lesson I had done making a PowerPoint, so I knew my students would like to make one also. I could have my students, even as young as Kindergarten, read books and instead of the traditional book reports they could make a PowerPoint as to why the other students in the class should read that book. This gives the students a chance to tell their classmates if they liked the book and what was their favorite part. Another way I can use technology in my classroom is by having the students work on spreadsheets and word processing documents. I could provide my students with time to work on computers all during the day to provide them with skills they will need when they are older. They have grown up using technology, so why shouldn't they use it inside the classroom? I know in a lot of cases they probably know more than me when dealing with technology, but that is the exact reason why I am taking a Technology Education course. I want to provide my students with every opportunity I can for them to succeed!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Excel Reflections
As a mother of two children, I thought I was done with learning new ways to achieve results. Well over this past week, I realized I was completely wrong about learning new things. I was presented with an assignment that went way beyond my knowledge of understanding. I didn't know where to begin my new experience but I decided I was going to attack the new obstacle head on and accomplish the task.
In my ELED 3300 class I was assigned the task of creating two Excel spreadsheets. Up until this assignment, I had only made one functional spreadsheet. This spreadsheet used the basic Auto Sum feature to keep track of amounts. For this class, I had to create two spreadsheets, one that would be used as a grade book and another one that was a shopping list. When I opened up my assignment, my mind immediately went into overload. I had no idea how to do this type of spreadsheet. I watched the videos my teacher had put with the instructions but I was still confused on this assignment. Eventually, I talked to a friend who was knowledgeable with spreadsheets and she sat down to help me with creating them. She spent about three hours walking me through how to use a spreadsheet. I learned so much from my friend that after I was alone I create a spreadsheet, without any help, to use with my integrated lesson plan. Once I figured out how to create a spreadsheet it was easy. I believe I was over thinking the whole creation of a spreadsheet. But until I learned how to create it on my own, I was so thankful I had a good friend who could help me with understanding spreadsheets.
After learning how to create a spreadsheet, I realized how many different ways I could incorporate them into my daily life. I could create a household budget that would track our expenses and we could even use one to keep track of car maintenance. But the main way I could use spreadsheets would be inside a classroom. I could use a grade book that is a spreadsheet. By using a spreadsheet I would have easy access to all of my students grades when their parents stopped by my room to ask about their child's performance. It would allow me to find their child's grades easily and quickly. This could be a wonderful way to help with time management for teachers.
After I started thinking about spreadsheets, I started wondering if I could use them for my students and not just for me as the teacher. I decided there were a lot of different ways I could use spreadsheets as lessons in my classroom. One way I could use them is to teach a lesson about predictions. I could make a spreadsheet that would give the percentages of each color in a bag of M&M's. The students would use their mental math to predict which color was most common and then determine if they were correct or not. They could also use a spreadsheet to keep track of the AR points in reading. I decided, after thinking about spreadsheets, how they could be very useful inside a classroom for both the teacher and the students.
In the past week, I decided I am not too old to learn new things. After this past week I decided that old saying "you can't teach old dogs new tricks" is wrong. As long as you have a wonderful teacher, or friend, who will stay with you until you know it, "old dogs" can learn anything!
In my ELED 3300 class I was assigned the task of creating two Excel spreadsheets. Up until this assignment, I had only made one functional spreadsheet. This spreadsheet used the basic Auto Sum feature to keep track of amounts. For this class, I had to create two spreadsheets, one that would be used as a grade book and another one that was a shopping list. When I opened up my assignment, my mind immediately went into overload. I had no idea how to do this type of spreadsheet. I watched the videos my teacher had put with the instructions but I was still confused on this assignment. Eventually, I talked to a friend who was knowledgeable with spreadsheets and she sat down to help me with creating them. She spent about three hours walking me through how to use a spreadsheet. I learned so much from my friend that after I was alone I create a spreadsheet, without any help, to use with my integrated lesson plan. Once I figured out how to create a spreadsheet it was easy. I believe I was over thinking the whole creation of a spreadsheet. But until I learned how to create it on my own, I was so thankful I had a good friend who could help me with understanding spreadsheets.
After learning how to create a spreadsheet, I realized how many different ways I could incorporate them into my daily life. I could create a household budget that would track our expenses and we could even use one to keep track of car maintenance. But the main way I could use spreadsheets would be inside a classroom. I could use a grade book that is a spreadsheet. By using a spreadsheet I would have easy access to all of my students grades when their parents stopped by my room to ask about their child's performance. It would allow me to find their child's grades easily and quickly. This could be a wonderful way to help with time management for teachers.
After I started thinking about spreadsheets, I started wondering if I could use them for my students and not just for me as the teacher. I decided there were a lot of different ways I could use spreadsheets as lessons in my classroom. One way I could use them is to teach a lesson about predictions. I could make a spreadsheet that would give the percentages of each color in a bag of M&M's. The students would use their mental math to predict which color was most common and then determine if they were correct or not. They could also use a spreadsheet to keep track of the AR points in reading. I decided, after thinking about spreadsheets, how they could be very useful inside a classroom for both the teacher and the students.
In the past week, I decided I am not too old to learn new things. After this past week I decided that old saying "you can't teach old dogs new tricks" is wrong. As long as you have a wonderful teacher, or friend, who will stay with you until you know it, "old dogs" can learn anything!
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