Reflection

Throughout the semester I have learned a lot about how to use technology in the classroom. I do not enjoy using technology so creating a unit with technology was a difficult project for me. The class stretched me to learn more in depth about the positive ways to include technology for schools. I think to effectively teach this generation technology is vital for them to learn and use in the real world.
One project I really enjoyed but was the hardest for me to complete was the webpage. I have never created a webpage before so the experience was new to me. I researched a little more in depth about the Civil Rights Movement and created the project like I was a student. I actually was surprised about how aesthetically pleasing the design of my page looked. I do not have a natural eye for art so to create a project as colorful made me proud. I enjoyed implementing the graphics into my project. The hardest part for me with the project was the layout.
In creating the unit, I was able to make three different powerpoints. I have made powerpoints before but usually the ones I create are very simple. The unit introduction required a long powerpoint. I enjoyed learning about new features I did not know how to use. For example, I have never inserted music into my power point. I learned how to do this and I think it adds to the overall effectiveness of the powerpoint. I also learned how to add animation to the powerpoint. I think these tools will help capture the attention of students when they are listening to a presentation. One of the other powerpoints I created was as if I was two students. I enjoyed this project because it was fun to think how a student would. I researched the Sixteenth Street Church Bombing and created a colorful powerpoint about the information I found. I love history, but for students who do not love history technologically advanced projects may help to peek their interest. The third powerpoint I created was a teacher support about the legal aspects of the Civil Rights Movement. The simple powerpoint contains many graphics to help encourage the students to engage with the study.
The simple tasks we made also helped me learn more effective ways to teach students. I think the teacher and student supports are things I will actually use in the classroom. As a history teacher, timelines are very helpful so I will be making more of those for my students. Another simple task we learned was to create a grade book. I found this task very helpful as I will need to create a system of keeping up with my students grades. The grade book is very time efficient so I will be using this in the classroom. Overall, I enjoyed the class and have learned helpful tools that I will use when I am a real teacher. The class challenged me but I think my teaching skill developed!

Unit Plan

The Unit Plan was one of the most difficult projects. I did not know how detailed a unit plan must be. Teachers do a lot more preparing than I ever imagined!

Unit Introduction

I created a powerpoint to introduce my Unit on the Civil Rights Movement for 11th grade students. I think it is fun to add music and animation to the powerpoint!

Teacher Support

Creating the teacher support was a difficult task. I made a powerpoint of the legal aspects of the Civil Rights Movement. It is a challenge for me to create an aesthetically pleasing layout. I have learned a lot about that this semester though!

Student Support

I loved creating the student supports. I think I will actually use worksheets like these in the classroom. One of my student supports was a historical time line and the other was a compare and contrast chart. I think they actually help students learn!

Student Webpage

Today I continued to work on my student webpage. So far, this project is the hardest for me. I am learning a lot using Publisher. I think this will be benefitial in my classroom as I can have students create a webpage on the topic of study. I am learning how to make my work appear more pleasing to the eye. I want my graphics to enhance my project!

Civil Rights Unit

Today I finished creating a newsletter. I pretended I was an 11th grade student in American History. I researched Rosa Parks, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s involvement in Birmingham's Civil Rights Movement. I was impressed with how easy it was to create a newsletter! I will use what I learned to send out newsletters for my class or for students to use as a project.