End of Semester

Well, I'm very excited that it is the end of the semester. I am pleased with what I have accomplished in the Instructional Technology class. Before the class began, I knew little about the Web 2.0 programs and all the other technologies that are available to us as educators.

I especially enjoyed creating the webquest. Although, it took me a very long time to create, I felt that I learned a lot about creating an assignment that required students to research information and then use higher level thinking and problem solving skills to put together a final product. My project required the students to produce quite a bit and it would have to be a multi-week process but I think students would learn important skills and information.

A webquest is an inquiry based, on-line learning activity. A situation or problem is presented to the students to solve which takes some research and higher level thinking skills. Students usually work in groups of 3 or 4 and each have their own role. The teacher provides all the information they will need through reliable, interesting and age appropriate links that are already set up. (Students don’t have to search for good sites for hours – you’ve already done that.) A webquest includes an Introduction, Task, Process, Evaluation and a Conclusion. It should be easy for students to follow and they should know exactly what is expected of them.
I loved the QuestGarden website that helped me put it together. I highly recommend this site to any teacher that is planning on making their own webquest. There are also many already made webquests available at this site.

Here is a link to the webquest I created. Moving to an Earthquake Zone?

Creating my own desktop movie on Movie Maker

   So I knew this project would take awhile. First I had to come up with a topic. That's always the hardest part for me. Since I'm not a teacher yet, I don't have a lot of experience to draw upon. So I took my daughter's 9th grade physical science book (since I'm going to be a high school science teacher) and started looking. I liked the information on the Introduction to Waves unit.

   No problem - I thought - I found some video of when we went to the beach, gathered some pictures and started putting them together on Movie Maker 2.6 which I had just loaded onto my computer. I had grand ideas but soon realized my video camera skills are lacking. So I took what I could and began my storyboard.

   Well, my computer is 6 years old but has a new operating system and all the updates, but somehow Movie Maker 2.6 wasn't very happy. It would randomly freeze up on me. So much, that I got to the point that I would save my work after every little change I made. So amidst many reboots, I figured out the narration and how to get the microphone to work. I wasn't too happy about my finished project - mostly because in my mind I had envisioned something grand and as a beginner I just couldn't pull it off with limited time and my lack of expertise. But I figure it's not too bad for my first ever desktop movie.

The next challenge was to build the movie - no problem right? The movie came out with a green line across the bottom and greenish color all over.Great! So we (my husband who has much more patience that I do with computers - and works with them for a living) downloaded a fix for it. That didn't work either. Luckily we have other computers in the house. So, next he tried it on his computer but MovieMaker really hosed up stuff on that computer. Next we invaded my daughter's room and used her newer computer - only 2 years old - I think. Since all our computers are on a network we were able to access all my work and build it on her computer. Yay! It worked! So after a frustrating week of making this video I do not feel encouraged to do this again anytime soon!

Here's my desktop movie - An Introduction to Waves. 

Inspiration Graphic Organization

Wow, I can't believe a whole month has gone by since my first post. Well Instructional Technology class has been keeping me busy. Since creating the newsletter I have created a concept map using Inspiration. A free graphic design program that I downloaded to my computer. I also created a hypermedia power point program that can be used as a review game and I learned about Google Docs and created a spreadsheet through that program.

I'll focus on the Inspiration assignment this time. I was already for using graphic organizers in teaching science. I think it is so much easier to remember concepts when they are presented visually and you can see the relationship between items. The inspiration program made it easy to create a concept map. The hardest part of the assignment was deciding what topic to do and how to arrange it!

The things I liked about the program

• ability to move graphics around, even whole sections at a time while connected with links
• easy to insert pictures
• easy to insert hyperlinks
• ability to color code sections
• plenty of work space
• free!
• easy enough for students to use
• Inspiration/Kidspiration websites had plenty of examples

I would recommend using Inspiration or Kidspiration to create concept maps for your classroom. I would also recommend that students try to create one themselves. It is fun!

Newsletter Assignment

     My second assignment for the Instructional Technology class was to create a newsletter using the advanced features of Microsoft Word 2007.  This was a fun and educational project.  I have used the word processor for writing letters, class papers and making various forms coaching or administration type activities, but I realized that I wasn't using it to the full potential. I finally learned how to do some of the things that I had just wondered about before. I suppose being required to include certain items and formats made me read the Help menus or watch tutorials and learn how to do it!


    I chose to create a weekly newsletter style that would tell parents what we did in class that week. It would also be used as a way to communicate with both parents and students about upcoming events, the next week's topic, extra credit and assignments. I tried to make the important information clear, concise and easy to find, so I put it in tables. I was also careful to keep to a color scheme so it wouldn't look overwhelming.  Then I added in a feature article called the Element of the Week that could apply to a physical science class that would be learning about elements and the periodic table.


    In creating this newsletter I learned some new things with which I had no experience and  I also gained a better understanding of some tools I already knew how to use including:

• Adding clipart to documents from various sources
• Wrapping text around clipart and tables
• Using WordArt and customizing the text's shape and color.
• Using the advanced format with lines that show where text can go. (This is great!)
• Using columns and controlling where they start and stop.
• Arranging a layout using visual literacy principles.
• Placing tables and working with different borders and colors.

    I admit the assignment was frustrating at times when I had trouble gettting a table to stay where I wanted it or in getting just the right amount of information on the page that would fill the page completely but not exceed it.

    On the other hand,  I had a lot of fun being creative. I especially liked using clipart and working with WordArt. I am pleased with the final document and the knowledge and skills that I obtained while working on it.

Here is a picture of my newsletter document.