Tuesday, August 13, 2013

EDLD 5366 Week 5 Reflection



My Reflection

Self-Assessment
Throughout this course, I have gained considerable knowledge on different aspects of what Digital Graphic Desktop Publishing can offer. In week one we discussed the C.R.A.P method for designing, websites, posters, business cards, etc. There is so much information that goes into designing and implementing contrast, repetition, alignment and proximity into your work, than I thought. It all comes together though, and everything serves a purpose. In week two we designed logos using the method we learned in week one and in week three we built our own animation. According to Understanding Multimedia Learning: Integrating multimedia in the K-12 classroom, “By enabling students to visualize complex information, animation may make it easier for the learner to make sense of the information in a way that requires less processing. In addition, animation is more likely to be effective if it is accompanied by narration, which makes use of both the auditory and visual channels”. Week 4, we took all of what we learned and implemented in a group website. While learning so much about design and animation, it made me realize that there are “free” resources out there to be used that can help students everywhere reach their potential. I have gain more confidence in what I can do in Digital Graphic Desktop Publishing. 

New information that I gained and old information that I knew about Digital Graphics were different. I realized that with some reading and watching “how-to” videos, I could make a decent logo, animation and website. I designed sites in previous classes and did them to my liking but I could clearly see where the C.R.A.P method would have been extremely helpful. Previously I felt animation was too hard to do and never “really” wanted to deal with it. After week three, I can see myself using animation more now than I thought I would before.

The relationship between the old and new information I learned affected my personal experience by bringing to light many things I just thought was not exactly “my thing”. I had this whole notion of picking what I wanted to do with technology, not really branching out and experiencing pieces of all of it. That is where I went wrong, limiting myself. I have learned to never put limits on what you want to do, do not put a cap on it, because if you do most likely you will miss out!

Learn as a Learner
The approach and strategies I used to complete my assignments always stayed within the rubric and guidelines of my instructions. I made sure I thoroughly understood the assignment and always collaborated with my classmates. I also participated in web conferences with our teacher to make sure there were no discrepancies in what we were supposed to be doing.

I try my best to make sure I can soak up as much information as I possibly can going into an assignment. The videos and readings are a big help also classmate collaboration! The more we know and learn the more we can help each other. I assess my own performance by the rubric, but I ask myself questions to see if every aspect of the assignment is being completed. I try to stay ahead with my assignments so I go over them multiple times before I turn them in. Also according to the grade I receive, I use that as a measure of how I should continue or improve my assignments.

The results of my performance were affected greatly by my learning and interaction with colleagues. We exchange each other’s blog addresses and google site address. We are constantly on our class’ Facebook page and we discuss our assignments daily. Interacting with my colleagues is a big part of the learning process. We gain information from each other by sharing what we discuss, research and have experienced in our classes and while doing our assignments.

Lifelong Learning Skills
Collaboration is a big part of lifelong learning skills. You have to know how to network, how to get yourself in a position where you make connections with those that are like-minded. As we learn, it is important to reflect on what is important. We should always be able to walk away with something that stands out from each lesson. When we learn we should pass on information to others to not only help others but to help ourselves retain what we have learn. When we practice what we have learned and speak of it, it becomes a part of who we are, we utilize it in classrooms, with colleagues and sometimes family and friends. The whole process of learning is to gain useful information and pass it on so that not only myself but also that others can benefit from it.

Past interactions and collaborations with colleagues will influence my future learning experiences greatly. I will never forget the importance of collaboration. It is so important to network and draw from each other’s expertise and knowledge. In the future, I will become more open about things I learn; I will share and extend the invitation for other co-works and colleagues to do the same. In working with my classmates from all over, you never know how any person will perceive you. We do not see each other in a lecture class, or on campus in passing, but we do collaborate through chat often and have web conferences and all this matters! The more positive and professional the attitude the more networking you can do; which in return gives you future resources and references. How well you network and collaborate tells a lot about a person and how people will often “brand” you. Branding works both personally and professionally and it is always good when you are perceived well by others. Hubert Rampersad, an authority on authentic personal branding puts it this way, “Having a strong authentic personal brand is an important asset in today’s online, virtual, and individual age. It is the key to personal success, and it is the positioning strategy behind the world's most successful people. Everyone has a personal brand, but most people do not manage it strategically, consistently, and effectively. It is important to take control of your brand and the message it sends, as it will help you distinguish yourself as an exceptional professional.”

As a lifelong learner I want to make sure, I am able to get through to people. I guess for me the questions or issues that will challenge me the most and that are worthy of future research or investigation, would be techniques to get the class attention. It is one thing to teach but to actually have the class pay attention and learn and retain, is another thing. I do not want to be a boring teacher, just reading from text. I want to know the lesson, study it so that it will be presented with full meaning and sustenance. Being able to really teach and the students actually participate and learn will be the challenge.

Describe how you would implement the use of web sites into a PK-12 classroom
As a part of a lesson plan, I think it would be great to start as young as possible to have students create blogs and websites. Student’s homework could be uploaded and saved to their site and reflections of the assignment posted to their blog. There are so many different free types of educational tools that can be used for assignments. Students can learn how to do animations, learn how to make “how-to” videos with Screencast and record audio with Audacity. Students will soon learn that all of their information can be posted to their sites and blog and can always refer back to them for references. The Center for Implementing Technology in Education states, “Integration of multimedia into instruction can help to reduce curriculum barriers and improve learning for all students”. If technology can be implemented in the youngest students this will prepare them for the future; college, internships, employment, etc.

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