Final Course Reflection

Throughout the course of IT 365 at The University of Southern Mississippi, I learned quite a bit of technology based information. I learned that there are a ton of free websites out there that can assist a teacher in about almost anything.  There are websites that help a teacher determine if a student has plagiarized. There is websites that can assist the teacher in creating puzzles or tests. There is even websites out there that assist a teacher in builder their own website for parents and students to utilize and receive classroom information without going through the hassle of calling or waiting for an email. I also learned that Windows has a variety of different tools that can aid a student or teacher based on his or her needs. One can enlarge the screen, use an on the screen keyboard, or even change the color contrast on the computer. I also learned how to use kidspiration, which is a very helpful program that allows for one lesson to be all on one concept map. Links from the internet can be included into these maps such as websites that correlate to the lesson or you tube videos. This program can be very useful within a classroom. The windows movie maker was also interesting. I really enjoyed learning how to use that because, not only can it be used in a classroom, but anyone can use it to create personal memories.

I have several strong points as well as several weak points. My strong points would obviously be navigating through Google and what it has to offer. I would also they that I am good with using a computer’s basic functions. My weak points would be dealing with the windows options and settings as well as the teacher website. I think that after I start using these features a bit more, and navigating through them just to get to know them a little bit more, I will become better at utilizing these tools.

I plan on integrating technology within my classroom by using all of these resources. These websites, features, and programs all can be useful as long as I learn how to use them efficiently. They are basically cheats for a teacher. It is a way for the teachers work load to be lessened because he or she will not spend as much time preparing things for the students to do.

Overall, I learned a lot from this class. It was fun and interesting.
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Assistive Technology

Assistive technology is basically what the computer someone has has to offer. Windows contains a ton of different features that assist a person who has difficulty viewing a computers screen. For example, under the settings in windows there is a way to enlarge the text. There are a ton of different things you can do to windows to fit the needs of the user. For our school assignment we had to go through a long sheet of paper telling us how to do different things such as enlarging a text, changing the text and background color. Etc. We had to take several different screen shots and incorporated them in to one large PowerPoint. This can allow for a teacher to differentiate instruction as well. For example, we had a part during our assignment where we had to get clip art, and make it to where good sounds and visuals we seen and heard depending on whether a student was visually impaired or they had a hard d time hearing. The NETS-T standard that it conveys the best is also 2c. This standard says that the teacher should customize and personalize learning activities to address students; diverse learning styles. The assistive technology does just that. It differentiates instruction based on the students within a classroom.

 

TurnItin

 

Turn it in is a site that teachers can use to determine if their students have plagiarized or not. My assignment was to use the assigned webpages to develop 2 essays that answer some questions my teacher had come up with. The first essay was to copy and paste every bit of my answers and then use the turnitin drop box to turn the paper in. Once the paper was turned in, it old you what percent of the paper were plagiarized. Of course, my first essay had like an 88% plagiarized. The second paper however was a little bit different. We had to summarize and create a paper that told the same information, but we did not copy and paste, instead we retold in our own words. Once I turned my paper in, it had 0% plagiarized. This Website showed me exactly what happens when the teachers use this site to have students electronically submit a paper.

The NETS-T standards that it correlates to would have to be 4a. The standard states to advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, I including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources. The turnitit site allows just that. It represents the proper way to write a paper. The students have the ability to create a correctly documented paper by citations. The teachers need to enforce that it is illegal to plagiarize without using correct documentation.

 



https://sites.google.com/site/mrskirchnersclassroom/


This website allowed for me to create my own teacher website. I could share any information that I wanted such as due dates, calendars, directions, notes, personal information, and contact information. This Website is an easy and effective way to build a website. You go step by step. Once you get the hang of how it works and where certain navigation buttons are, it is easy. I will be using this when I get my own classroom. The teachers can put an email link. The teacher can maybe even somehow incorporate a password/login for the parents to log on a view their child’s grades. This website is great. They even have it to where the teacher can build their own from start to finish or pick out one that is already made for you.  It is an effective way to keep in touch with the parents as well as the students. The NETS-T standard that this correlates with the best would have to be standard 4c. The standard states to promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information. This is a perfect match. The teacher can exhibit proper etiquette and communicate effectively by giving information to the parents and the students by the use of technology.