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.