Course Reflection

1. What have you learned from this online class? Describe your learning experience briefly. I feel I have learned quiet a lot from this IT class that will help me become a better teacher in the end. I really didn’t realize a computer had so many concepts about it. I think I knew the existed just never knew how they worked to take advantage of them. Now I feel I can take advantage of what a computer can actually offer. I am really impressed with the idea that there are sites or software that can detect plagiarism, which is something that needs to be considered when students are writing papers. I was also impressed with the idea that my computer can help a child with a disability, I only have to hit a few buttons and it will change many things to help the student.
2. What are your weak and strong points? Explain
I believe pretty much this whole class was a weak part for me when I started. Even though I have taken two computer classes before if feel if you don’t use the information often you lose it and I believe that is what I have done from the other classes. I believe my strong points were the use of the power point and concept map, only because I have done them before and once I got back into the program I began to remember how some of the item worked. I think in the end of this class I became stronger in many of the areas, partly because I really didn’t know some of them existed, but now I am eager to try them out.
3. How did you like the interaction between you and your peers, you and instructor? Explain in details. Provide examples if necessary.
I liked having interaction between my peers, it was an enjoyable experience. We had problem in the beginning with our group because none of us really knew how it worked, but in the end it was a fun experience, I only wish we would have started it earlier and used it more often. Interaction with my instructor was AWESOME, even though she was out of the country all summer she still took the time to answer questions and post grades in a timely manner which is more than I can say for some of the other instructor.
4. Reflect on the communication tools (individually) used in this class: email, discussion board, chat room, Voice Board, Live classroom, and Blog. Which did you use most, why? Form your experience; explain the advantages and disadvantages of each communication tool. Provide examples if necessary.
Communication tools used in this class were great. I did not use the chat room, voice board, or live classroom; however I did use blog, email and the discussion board. Of the three I used I believe I use all of them about the same. The advantages of email are I was able to chat with my peers and instructor about projects due and how to do them. I was able to resubmit some of my project through email because they were too big to go through blackboard mail. The discussion board was used quite a bit; it was just used among the peers. I learned a lot of valuable information among the discussions. The hardest part about the discussion board is we are suppose to respond to several peers discussions and the funny part is once you respond to one with so many students the others come up with the some response you would have. Honestly, in the end the discussion board makes you think beyond where you would have. The blog part was quite interesting. I never had to deal with a blog before this semester. I like how they were just a reflection of the projects and not the actual project (like in another class). I however had major problem with the blog in the beginning, but once I figured it out I learned how to work it. Although, I think I still have the wrong blog posted for my peers. In the end though I like how it all turned out for myself.

Classmates

Maliaka McNair
Christian Orgill
Branda Stewart
Lisa Parker
Gena Fortenberry
Kelley Ponders
Rhonda Hering
Tonja Harvard
Heather Brown

Assistive Technology

I absolutely loved the assistive Technology assignment. I didn't know my computer could do all those things to help students with disabilities. I have had students with many of these disabilities in the classroom and to know I could have just hit a couple of key buttons they could have been using the computer to help with their learning experience. I will definitely be using these tools when I return to the classroom this year.

Web Page

Creating the web page was fun. I enjoyed using all the cool tools available. We have been working on our webpage for school at the end of the year. I feel confident we can go back and do a great job for our class page. I like knowing the fact that I will be able to create a page when the time comes and I need to. I like how we can add pictures to the site also. Here is my website, check it out.

Turn It In

I was amazed at how the turnitin process worked. The first time I done it, it gave me a return of 75% Which I though was pretty good considering I cut and pasted everything. I wanted to resubmit but it would not let me. I contacted Dr. Wang and she set it up where I could resubmit and it come back 0% Yahoo!! I didn't realize there were times out there that could do this. I found it pretty neat how it could tell you how much you copyrighted. I think is will be a good tool to use in a higher grade class where papers are due. Here is my paper.

Web Tools

Web tools was a great experience. I like how they have the rubric template already made or you can change any part of it. I had no problems with that part. The test maker was a little bit more confusing. It was easy making the test but for a teacher of math there is no place to put your work.Maybe I didn't navigate that far into it but I liked how it could be done on the computer with drop down windows. The trackstar if fun I like how it gave you a path to different area to practice what you are teaching.I had a bit of a problem with mine because it was showing advertisements when I clicked on them. I hope it doesn't' do that to you when you view it. All in all I liked using the web tools. I look forward to using them within my classroom one day.

Google Groups

We had a hard time getting the group thing together, but we accomplished it with great pride. I enjoyed using the group function. I hope to use it when I get into my classroom. It has many features which I am still figuring out. I believe it will be a great asset within the classroom. I will be sure to tell students to navigate it first before actual usage.Which is where I think I fell down on the job.:)