Lesson 4

Although I do not have my own classroom, I have already created a PowerPoint presentation for an Art Education class that I took last semester. The topic of discussion covered by the presentation is the elements of art. When creating the presentation, I used Illustrator and Photoshop in addition to PowerPoint. I did so in order to have greater control over the features of the text and the accompanying images. As an art teacher I considered it particularly important to create slides with substantial visual impact. As a test of effectiveness, I showed the PowerPoint presentation to a high school senior.

I am most proud of the use of eye-catching color combinations and typography. Bright pinks, yellows and blues set in contrast to greens, reds, and oranges create a visual impact that makes it as easy as possible for the viewer to understand what the most important pieces of information are. The bold colors and type signal what must be remembered, and function as a good support to the verbal stress put on the content. Additionally, the typography creates a sense of rhythm, which varies from slide to slide. I made sure to utilize some of the elements that were discussed in the lesson. Form and line can be seen through the placement of the text itself without the need for illustrations.

If I were to recreate this presentation, I would be tempted to use some of the transitions provided by the PowerPoint program. However, I tend to think that less is more in most cases, and that simplicity is elegant. I wouldn’t want to detract from the aesthetic of the design by tossing in some transitions for the sake of adding transitions. It would have to add an element to the presentation, which was lacking and needed in order to be more effective. Maybe if I didn’t add transitions, I would scrap the entire presentation and come go a completely different route.

The student who viewed my PowerPoint presentation only had one criticism. She said that there wasn’t enough information on the slides. I admit that only key points were included on each slide. The presentation, which was meant to be used as an overview of the elements of art, would be followed by others focusing on each individual element in more detail. Also, the presentation is to be viewed as a supplement to a lecture. Without the lecture, the student will not get every single detail. The student did comment on how much she liked the color and the illustrations. Overall, I would say that the presentation was successful, and I will definitely try it in the future with my own class.

LESSON 3

This week I learned about the importance of word processing and desktop publishing in education. Productivity software is an indispensible tool when handling administrative tasks and instruction. The use of such software increases efficiency and enables the teacher to produce visually interesting, clearly organized, professional documents and teaching materials that improve communication with colleagues and student engagement and comprehension.

Students also benefit tremendously by using productivity software. Word processors aid students in the writing process in many ways. Today, all major word processing programs include spelling and grammar checking, a dictionary and thesaurus, form templates, and page formatting tools in addition to the selection, cut, copy, paste, and delete commands. Utilizing all the available tools offered by the word processor, students can quickly proceed beyond the base levels of the cognitive domain on to deeper thought, evaluation, analysis, synthesis, and creativity. Due to the flexibility of word processing software and effectiveness in manipulating text, students do not dread the process of revision. Instead of rewriting entire passages and papers, students can select incorrect pieces or weak sections of text and quickly make changes.

Word processing programs also help students with learning disabilities or other physical disabilities succeed in writing. The software can actually help students learn to spell correctly. Students with physical disabilities, which prevent them from writing, can use the keyboard with or without adaptive aids to compensate for their impairment. All students can take pride in the professional quality of the documents that they produce with word processing documents.

Desktop publishing software works much like word processors; however, they offer greater control over typesetting, layout, and image integration. Students and teachers alike may use desktop publishing programs to create professional quality documents, pamphlets, flyers, catalogs, magazines, newsletters, posters and books. Desktop publishing software offers even more opportunities for students to create and express themselves with authenticity that reflects challenges that they are likely to face in their daily life or careers after graduation.

Making use of technology gives students opportunities to collaborate to complete tasks in a way that gives them freedom to experiment and be creative. These programs that simplify some of the technical aspects of learning allow teachers to concentrate on other skills and information that are equally if not more important in the real world. Regardless of subject matter, valuable lessons can be taught and learned, as well as used across disciplines by way of word processing and desktop publishing.

I am not teaching, yet, but I have seen the rules poster on the wall of many teachers. I decided to make my own, which is direct, emphasizes key points and is easily visible.

Lesson 2

http://www.ehow.com/info_7994591_use-databases-classroom.html

The above referenced website has some interesting ideas incorporating databases into daily lesson plans. As a student I had never worked with any database software, not even at the collegiate level. My lack of experience with such a powerful tool is regrettable. Before beginning this course in educational technology I had yet to consider the possibility of using databases as a learning tool. Now, after a little reading and researching of sample lesson plans I see how databases can enrich lessons, facilitate learning, and equip students to live in a technology-driven world.

Of course, I have already used databases to collect information and research all kinds of topics over my years of schooling. My own students started utilizing web-based databases and electronic card catalogs at an early age as well. However, I doubt that any of them have created their own database from scratch. It is the creation of a database that provides opportunities for deeper learning of practical skills and logical thinking processes.

I am an Art teacher, so for me the best use of databases or any other educational technology is in relation to the subject of art making or art criticism. I can see myself assigning students the task of collecting information on an array of important artists across various genres and periods throughout history; then organizing such information in a database, which may be browsed by period, medium, geographic region, or other categories as well as key word searchable.

This assignment would encourage students to do independent research, which would help to improve their study skills. Additionally, the information collected would be retained in their long-term memory due to the manipulation and higher order thinking it would take to evaluate and organize it into the database. An added bonus to the engagement in learning and independence gained would be the acquisition of new technical skills, which would cross over to any subject and possibly into their post-secondary school lives. They could also use their skills in database creation to organize their own work into a portfolio that is well organized and interactive.

I realize that I am probably just scratching the surface of what these databases and other software programs can do to benefit students in their academic, personal, and professional lives. In the 21^st century is more important than ever to give kids the skills they need to succeed in an ever increasingly competitive global marketplace.

Lesson 1

This week, in lesson one, our reading focused on the definition of technology, the definition of educational technology, technological standards, theories on learning and intelligence, and why we use technology in the classroom.

The term, educational technology, means different things to different people. To educators is includes any media that can be used in instruction. For technologists, it is defined as any hardware used in the classroom.

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has established standards for the use of technology by students, teachers, and administrators. National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS*T) mandates the incorporation of technology in instruction and administrative tasks. I will use these standards in my classroom, to ensure that my daily procedures and lesson planning make proper use of various forms of technology to facilitate and inspire learning, expedite processes, and form responsible digital citizens in my classroom.

The reading gave a few examples of technology, which may be used in the classroom. I plan to take advantage of as many different types of technology as I can. The use of software programs can along with videos, slideshows, audio, and the Internet, can help to make connections with learners of all types whether visual, aural or tactile.

Theories on learning vary from Behaviorist, Cognitivist and Constructivist. Today’s educators are expected to take a holistic approach to teaching. Technology can overcome the challenge of teaching based on possibly conflicting perspectives, by offering diverse opportunities for learning. I will use software programs, which are based on the behaviorist model, in conjunction which other teaching methods.

One of my classroom goals is that upon completion of my course, students will be able to gather information on their own using multiple technologies and then will be able to use additional technologies to synthesize, present and share their findings with others locally and remotely. Through direct instruction, indirect student-led experimentation, and role modeling we will reach this goal. Students will not only be technologically literate and capable of succeeding in the fast-paced technology-driven world of the present, but they will also be responsible citizens in regards to their use of technology.

Children of today are different and so is the society that they live in. It is imperative that our classrooms break from the past and embrace the present state of technology in order to stay relevant and in touch with the children, which they serve. If not, the children of today will become the adults of yesterday, and underprepared for life.

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