Update E

For my final project, I created a student database of my students' IEP information.  I included IEP and ETR due dates, IEP goals addressed, special services, accommodations, testing and parent contact information.  By creating this database, I can easily sort the information to find who's IEP is coming due. I can use the information to determine testing groups based on accommodations or sort students by grade level.  This was my first experience with Access.  I found it extremely useful.  I also learned that you can include a column in which you can add an attachment.  Within this column, I attached a PDF of the students IEP for easy access.  I did spend some time watching the tutorials on AtomicLearning, but feel like I only made it through the basic elements of the program.  

Page one was sorted by IEP due date.  Page two information was sorted by Grade Level.  Access will prove to be very beneficial to me in the future! I have updated my checklist to demonstrate my learning for this week.

Update D

This week I have been working on developing Digital Learning Objects for an eLearning course that I am taking. I have watched many tutorials on Quizlet, Google Docs (specifically Chrome Read and Write application), Jing, and Camtasia.  I feel by creating these DLOs that I have developed a great deal of my tech. skills especially in the areas of Slide Presentation  and Graphic Skills.  Please read through the new page on this blog titled "DLOs for Short".  I have updated my plan and checklist to represent this shift.

Udate C

This week I worked with a variety of multi-media tools to create  a presentation on ecosystems for my third graders.  I started by researching graphic design software and decided to download a trial version of Adobe Photoshop. The software is very intimidating when I first began exploring it. I decided to watch videos from Atomic Learning to help me learn the basics of the program and give me direction on how to create a graphics to use in my presentation.  This is the graphic I decided to start with for my title page.  After I watched the basic videos for the Photoshop, I noticed Atomic Learning had tips and tricks for using the software.  I watched the video on manipulating fonts for my title.  After that, I watched a video on utilizing the layers portion of the program to design a graphic to create a photo montage.  Here is the end result.  I really liked how it turned out, but it took A LOT of time to learn the software and create the graphic.  I think I could do it more quickly now after working in the software.

After I made the title page, I wanted to incorporate it into a presentation program.  I have utilized PowerPoint very often and feel very confident with the program, so I decided to try Microsoft PhotoStory, a free download available on Microsoft's website.  I read about the program from another tech. course that I am taking this summer.  Here is the presentation that I created.

PhotoStory is fairly simple to use, however, I am not completely satisfied with my presentation as it is.  I think it would work okay as an introduction video.  I wish I could incorporate more text for my visual learners.  I may be biased but I think I prefer working  with PowerPoint for this very reason.  PhotoStory would be a great tool to use with students who struggle with written expression.  It allows the student to present what they know verbally or in addition to limited writing. I have updated my checklist for this week to include my increased knowledge within these areas.

Update B

   This week was spent learning more in Word 2012.  I spent my time watching the newsletter tutorial for Microsoft 2010 in order to better create an effective method of communication with my parents.  Although I did not achieve my goal of creating a graphic design, I worked in inserting graphics, text boxes and text (manipulating margins and columns) to create a finalized newsletter for my classroom.  I also watched a tutorial on utilizing the website-www.scribd.com. to upload my newsletter to my blog!  Over the past two weeks  I have strengthened my skills in Microsoft Word. I plan to move from Word next week and begin researching and utilizing graphic design programs.  I have updated my schedule and my checklist to reflect this weeks work.

School Newsletter by RSchultz0603

Update A: A shift in direction.

      I began watching the Atomic Learning videos by searching "Microsoft Word 2010".  Many various results came back.  I chose the to watch the tutorial labeled "Microsoft Word: Basic."  I felt that I would begin with this tutorial, even though I was fairly confident that I would know all the "basics" that Word had to offer.  I was wrong.  The tutorial really showed me a lot of shortcuts to tasks, and to buttons that I did not know existed.  I learned about the quick access bar and how to modify it to better suit my needs.  I also was able to discover basic formatting of headings and subheadings within my documents.  By learning to alternate these items I can save myself time by modifying the text one time and applying it to my headings and subheadings throughout the document.
    As for my brochure, I have decided to change my product to better suit my new skill development and allow me to practice my new and improved skills.   I have decided that creating a classroom newsletter would better suit my need. I have adjusted my objectives and checklist to represent my shift in thinking.  My work sample is almost complete. I plan to upload my final project within the next few days.

Analysis of Skill Checklist

             After completing and reviewing my technology skills checklist, I feel that the trends demonstrate that I am advanced in areas that I utilize everyday and beginner in programs that I do not utilize every day.  
              I was not surprised to find that my most advanced skill category was emailing.  Email is such a big source of communication and information daily within my job and my personal life.  I use my email to track upcoming events, stay connected educationally with an assistive technology list serve and conference/training email updates, and communicate with friends and family. 
             Although the overall trend seems to be correlated to how often I use certain programs, there seems to be areas within the programs that I use everyday that am not experienced in.  For example, before completing the word processing portion of the checklist, I felt fairly confident that I would be advanced in a majority of the skills listed.  This was not the case at all.  I hold beginner status in a majority of skills listed under this category.  This is one program that I use often.  Another example of this is my spreadsheet skills and slide presentations.  I utilize Excel Spreadsheets and PowerPoint often to track IEP skill development and present learning presentations; however there are certain skills within each area that I need to work to develop.  
              I do not use databases or graphic skills often within my classroom or personal life.  I would like to develop more skills within each of these areas this semester to better organize classroom information and increase interest in my learning presentation.