FINAL REFLECTION

 I learned a lot of different things in this class.  I learned a large variety of different types of technology that I can use as a future teacher.  It also taught me a bunch of different ways to share me testimony and share the gospel through technology.  One of the things that I got out of the class and that I hope to use in the future is creating a website.  I always wondered how to do it and I thought that you have to be extremely tech savvy in order to make it look good.  But I never knew about Google sites until I took this class.  Google sites are so helpful and not complicated to use.  As a teacher I hope to make my own class website so that my students will feel more connected to me and be more confident in what I expect in class.  Another useful thing that I learned in this class was how to use Studio code. This was really helpful to learn because I know I will be using it as I continue through my schooling here at BYU.  Studio code is helpful because it will help me break down all of my good and bad teaching habits and better be able to see what I can improve upon.  I feel the best way for me to become a better teacher is to watch and evaluate my teaching and studio code makes it much easier for me to do that.


Before this class I was very uncomfortable with technology.  I knew how to use the basics like the internet, power point, and a word processor.  But I wasn't confident in my ability to learn other aspects of technology.  Those things we learned, such as editing videos, making a website, and studio code, are things that I  never thought I'd be able to understand. But through this class I learned that technology can be mush simpler to understand than I originally thought.  I now have more confidence in myself to use the various types of technology that we learned but also confidence in myself to learn new programs that I have never used before.

Mobile Apps

I would use mobile apps for extra opportunities to learn but I would not require students to use them.  I would be more likely to give have a list of beneficial apps in my classroom and a little description of what they do.  I would try to gradually update the list and change it since new apps come out all the time.  There are a few good apps like Calorie Counters and Heart Rate. There are even apps that have a pedometer.  This would be really helpful in a Physical Education class because it is proof of how much the students are moving. There are also a lot of nutrition apps with calorie counters so students can keep track of what they are eating and how much nutrition they are getting.

Studio code

I had a pretty good experience with Studio code.  I think I would have had a lot more problems with it without the packet that explained step by step how to do each section.  For the most part I followed the directions step by step very slowly and everything worked out for me.  One thing I don't understand with studio code is the purpose of it.  We already watch our lessons after we teach and evaluate ourselves.  With this I feel like we are doing the same exact thing but more complex.

Evaluation of Teaching

The lesson that I coded was one of the first lessons I taught and it was a very difficult one, balls and paddles.  I know that I have made a lot of improvement over the the times that I have taught.  One thing I have learned about my management skills is that I do not do a good job of keeping track of off task students.  I need to move around where I teach more and pay attention to the individual students instead of just getting through the lesson. I also learned that my formations for my lesson were helpful and if I had more room it would have been better.  But I used the space that was provided as well as I could.

Coding my video I also learned a number of things about my instructions.  At times I do a good job of explaining and demonstrating skills but those skills that are more complicated are harder for me to explain. I need to demonstrate more for the students in different positions to make sure they all understand.  In my feedback to students I also need to be more specific and tell them what to improve on or what exactly they are doing right instead of just saying "good job".

I have made a lot of changes in my teaching this semester.  One of the major things I plan to work on is relaxing.  Relaxing during my lesson and not worrying so much about getting done with it will help me manage my class better and keep track of any off task students.  Another thing I want to work on and improve is demonstrated clearer for the students and making sure they are all listening to me.  To make sure they all listen to me I need to use my signals more and wait longer for everyone to follow directions.

Web 2.0

A great Web 2.0 site is Rollyo.  This is where you can create your own search engine with the sites that you trust.  This would be of great use to parents because their children will need to use the internet more and more during school.  Parents can create a search engine that uses the sites that they approve in order to keep their children safer on the internet.  If parents did this children would be able to use their computers for research more and be able to improve their education.
Facebook can be used to further education as teachers collaborate on it.  Facebook is another way that teachers who know each other can share ideas.  Also, teachers can make groups and post different ideas and lessons that they teach.  That way they can share with other teachers.

Now and Forever Video

Making this video was a really good experience.  It was difficult at first to get everything figured out, but once I did everything worked out well.  I've always wanted to learn how to edit videos and this was a simple enough assignment that I could learn how to do it but also add in different aspects of editing.  I think I would be able to make another video if I was given enough time.
 Liz edited our other video titled "Lucy Dettmer"

iMovie

I have never used iMovie before, so this week I have still been figuring out how to do different things.  My partner and I have been gathering music and video we can use in order to make our videos but we haven't come to a point where we can make the video and upload it to YouTube yet.  One problem that I have run into is that my original plan for the movie was to use clips of college athletes.  But that was too difficult to actually get video of, so I had to change plans slightly and simply use shots of college age students doing the different actions.