Reflecting back...



       This class presented me with quite a few new ideas that I felt were really applicable in the classroom.  I have been offered tons of sites and tools in the past from other classes, fellow teacher, etc. but most don't work their way into my classroom (too difficult for students to work with, too much research to even begin trying to use the tool, or the finished product could be completed on paper in just as meaningful a way).  One thing I loved and wish I had had more time with was the infographic.  I already used my example of branches of government with my class (I kept it simple so they would have a clear visual understanding), but now I am using that tool to redo some anchor charts in our classroom so it really draws their attention, highlights steps, or clarifies strategies they can use. 



Hand With Reflecting Sphere.  M.C. Esher



       The digital story project was a great process.  The weekly steps to complete it, and introducing new tools along the way to choose from made it that much more personal in its creation.  I felt an immediate connection with 'hey I can use this right now to show my kids how to write their personal narratives and what one would sound like'.  One of the more interesting parts to me was thinking of the process as a storyboard, know I would turn it into a movie, I realized what I pictured in my head needed not only to be explained in my words, but the pictures I included as well.  I once saw another teacher use it to have her students create a video of the water cycle where the students narrated the video as a raindrop going through the cycle.  I had always wanted to do the same type of project, but now that I am familiar with it, I actually am planning to use it this year!

       The main focus of course, was how literacy can be enhaced by technology, and I think the projects really made me stop and rethink constantly 'is this supporting my students literacy or is it just a neat tool for them to use as a project choice?'  It was that constant question that made me more self-aware of my own learning throughout the course, and I think that will be the greatest take-away from the past 8 weeks!