Post X: The Final Post

In looking back at my instructional technology class I will remember a lot of different programs and methods I can use in my future as an educator. Will I use all of them? Absolutely not, but a few of them stick out as valuable resources for a teacher.

Google Docs is probably the most versatile facet of the class that was covered, which is why we spent several classes on it. The best part is: it's free. It also is a lot easier to, say, make a power point, or Google slides, presentation on docs and have it there than it is to keep transferring the file via email and flash-drive from computer to computer. Once it's in my Drive, it's there for me as long as I have internet access.  I also didn't know how easy it was to collaborate on a file with docs.

I would have liked more hands-on experience with Smartboards. I see them everywhere in every school now and I still don't consider myself familiar with it. It seems like one of those things you learn over time with experience. The program we used to make a lesson on it seemed like an animated version of Paint added to Powerpoint, which is good because it's fairly easy.

Overall I think I got from this class as much as I put into it. Gamification was a real drag, but a few of those levels were interesting and ultimately useful. Jing sticks out as useful and Prezi is a much more engaging version of Powerpoint or Slides. However, I am excited to unsubscribe from a lot of the sites and services we had to enroll in. I am sick of getting emails from Twitter and Powtoon...

Collaboration and Communication

In our tech teacher game, we had a level that centered on collaboration and communication. These are two extremely important skills for students as well as teachers. With the technology that is now available to classrooms, it is easier than ever to foster an improvement of skills in both areas. Students no longer have to try to align their schedules with each other to be able to collaborate on a project. Google Docs, for example, allowed students to collaborate from wherever they are and whenever they want. Students working on a slideshow can each be responsible for their own part and work on it directly on the same file at the same time, collaborating and communicating at once. Google hangouts will also allow them to speak directly to each other and see one and other using their Google plus accounts.
These skills are not just important in the classroom. As students enter the "real world" they will need to draw upon these skills in the workforce, often collaborating on projects with coworkers. The better they are at communicating and collaborating, the more effective they will be in the workforce.

Prezi

Prezi is essentially Power Point: The Next Generation. Prezi allows users to make slide shows that are more engaging and interesting to those who are watching them. Instead of clicking through a slideshow that, say, hits a few bullet points, Prezi allows a creator to embed videos, narration, etc while the slides move in all different ways. A presentation can even have subheadings and zoom into them as the slides go along.

Of the presentations I watched, my favorite was probably "Why We Live Where We Live." Other than the obvious reasons, I really liked how personal the teacher made it. The slides where all about his family and why the left Finland to come to American and live in the UP. It also had plenty of facts such as the definitions of immigrate and emigrate. I found it to be an effective Prezi and one that would make students really think about why they live where they live.

I also enjoyed the "Mathematweets" one for all that it included. It had video about twitter and a bunch of examples of how the teachers used social media in their classroom, including what methods of questioning worked and what didn't work. I thought it was a good presentation and I actually learned a little more about Twitter, which I still struggle to use.

The third Prezi I liked a lot was the one about the Superbowl. I don't know what kind of class it was used it, but it was fun. It gives you some background on the teams playing in that year's bowl and also some history about the Superbowl in general. Anything that involves the NFL I will usually watch and enjoy.

Overall I think Prezi does a better job of engaging the audience than a typical powerpoint slideshow would. The movement itself sucks the audience in better than clicking through the presentation.

Flipped

1.) What is one tip you got from Todd? Never have a video longer than ten minutes for a class. Students can't be expected to sit through a video longer than that. 
2.) What is one question you have for Todd? What if some of your students learn better through worksheets and conventional learning rather than watching your five minute long videos? Do they still have to watch the videos? 
3.) After watching this webinar, are you more inclined to try to flip your classroom? Why or Why nor? I am less inclined. I think these videos are unnecessary to use every day. Once in a while it might be nice to switch up the class, but I think especially as an English teacher there are better ways for the students to learn. I especially don't like the attitude that this project and inquiry based learning is the best for every student. For some I'm sure it works great, but for others I think benefit from reading and learning in different ways. I would rather have my students read the material that I am trying to teach than have them watch me talk about it for five minutes a night.