Critical Reflection EDLD5366

Where have these 5 weeks gone?  I can't believe class is over and another already beginning.  This is a topic that I really enjoy---digital graphics and webpage development.  Both are something that I do in my job as an Instructional Technology Specialist.

Here is my reflection for the end of course assignment:

Reflection is something that we are seeing used more and more in the classroom.  I feel it is necessary and beneficial.  In my opinion it is necessary for true understanding.  Critical reflection actually allows for the learning to reach the highest level of Bloom’s by Evaluating and then Creating.  The evaluation allows the learner to review the learning and the process of creating the reflection meets the top of Bloom’s through creating.  Creating a reflection allows the learner to put down their thoughts into words that can express what they learned but also how they felt bout said learning.

The learner should be critical of their reflection.  They should be truthful but it is not necessary to

simply repeat the knowledge learned.  I think there are some that will have problems with this as expressed in the article that was part of our reading assignment. According to Jackie Gerstein, Ed.D., the current generation is a product of a standardized system that is required to memorize standard information for standardized tests.  I feel that she is right in many ways but, it is the responsibility of every teacher to make sure that their students can do more.  I believe the process of reflection can allow for that. 

Through this course we have been allowed to critically reflect many times.  The use of the forum allows each to post about their learning, read fellow students reflections and then post to them.  Through the use of response it allows all learners to further learn.  I realize that that might seem redundant but, by reading the posts of my fellow classmates I learn more through their posts because each of us sees things, learns things and reflects in a different way.  There have been times there was something that I didn’t quite comprehend but after reading forum posts I was able to have the “aha” moment. 

I must confess that I was very unsure of the group project.  I wondered how in the world we could work together on something such as a website.  Through email though we developed a vision and were able to come together creating a website that was truly a collaborative effort. 

Regarding the use of websites in the classroom I have used them in the past and feel they can be an excellent tool for many reasons.  The process of the development and planning is a great use of collaboration.  Students must work together for the good of the group.  It has become so much easier to use this form of collaboration since there are many ways to use Google or other free websites for creation. 

I can see the use of critical reflection in the classroom as very rewarding and encouraging higher level thinking that is necessary for students. I think it must be used starting at lower elementary and developed throughout a student’s school years.  We can no longer expect students to be able to “just spit back facts” they must understand what they have learned and how it fits into life.

My animation

EDLD5366 Digital Graphics - Week 3 Animation

What a great week!   I have always loved using animation in the technology classroom.  When I was working at the junior high level I loved using animation with all classes.  I just never realized that what I was doing was involving Bloom's Taxonomy! 

This week I learned about "Blooms Digital Taxomony"!  Here is a link to an article that will help explain it further:  http://www.techlearning.com/article/blooms-taxonomy-blooms-digitally/44988

How can we prepare our students for the future if we don't use digital animation? You can't.  Our students love to create and use computers.  What better way to keep your students engaged. 

Try it in your class I"m sure you will be surprised in the wonderful way students of all ages can ebrace technology and create a great product!

Week 1 assignment 1.2- EDLD5366 - ET8047

In Week 1 assignment for EDLD5366-Digital Graphics and Web Design we are to investigate an ancient manuscript and books.  This is to give us insight into the history of graphic communication and how the principles of design were used in early manuscripts. 

I went to the British Library online and actually looked at the following:  Bible from Ethiopia, Lisbon Hebrew Bible, Baybars' magnificent Qu'ran, and Outstanding 15th-century church book.  I wanted to view them all and found each to be extremely fascinating but will focus this assignment on only one -the Lisbon Hebrew Bible.  It is viewable at:  http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/virtualbooks/viewmostviewed/index.html#

At first glance the beautiful and elaborate cover is visually appealing.  I believe the use of gold signifies the importance of the book.  The cover also uses the design qualities of contrast, alignment and repetition.  The use of the the Star of David in the corners of the cover, the inside corners of the rectangle and in the center are use of repetition as well as the circular design.  Alignment is represented on the cover through the use of lines and the centering of the Star of David. 

Throughout this book you will find the four design principles used.  The use of color for contrast is used in the actual text - gold against a white velum background is one and another is the use of a red background with gold text indicating important text.  On pages 2 and 3 you will see an elaborate border with features that are carried throughout the book resulting in repetition-use of color, design features, shapes and flowers.  Alignment is represented throughout the book with text being inside decorative rectangular areas and later in the book the text is aligned in columns separated by the use of variations of the design from pages 2 and 3.  The representation of proximity is evident throughout the book as well.  Information is well organized, not crowded and visually appealing.  Pages included well spaced text with elements throughout that belong together.

The study of these beautiful manuscripts is very enlightening.  I don't know if these were written with the four principles in mind but they do meet these qualifications.  I find it fascinating that we can find these principles throughout history and that we still follow them many years later.

Week 5 EDLD5301 - Research

Week 5 is ending and this class is almost history. This has been a very interesting and enjoyable course.  I must admit that what I thought this class would be and what it turned out to be are entirely different.  That was a pleasant surprise. 

As I mentioned in my discussion board post, when I attended college in the 1970’s research meant an entirely different thing.  At that time when a class required research or a research paper you went to the college library to start.  Of course back then the thought of using a personal computer and something called “Google” didn’t exist or enter the minds of college students.  We used the card catalog to start finding resources.  Hopefully if you needed a periodical such as a magazine it would be available and not already in use by another student since there would only be one copy!  Once your materials were collected you started taking notes, not on a computer but by handwriting them on 3 x 5 note cards.  My how times have changed.

When I first read that I was going to have a “research” class what I expected and what I received are on different ends of the spectrum.  I honestly expected that we would be taught how to gather data and cite sources correctly.  Having been out of the classroom as a student for over 25 years I realize that research has changed just as life has changed. 

Research to me now means something totally different and this really is a good thing.  Action research as we have learned isn’t about reading books and writing a paper.  It is about actually developing a topic that you want to research using a process involving others. 

Through the course of this 5 week course we have learned how to develop and fine tune our action research project.  We have worked not only with one another to develop our plans, but with our site supervisors and the professor as well.  Through the use of videos, readings, discussion boards and blogs we have learned so much.  We have learned how to write the plan of action and develop a template which will give us organization in our plan and research. 

In addition, I am really excited to start my action research project.  I know in the past just the mention of research brought horrible thoughts and memories.  That is no longer the case!

Action Research Plan

It is getting time to narrow this down, fine tune it as you might say. 

I am Instructional Technology Specialist and am working on my M.ED in Education Technology it only makes sense that my "Action Research Plan" would include technology!  It was actually very easy to come up with an idea as it was something "rattling" around in my head anyway. 

We opened our wireless through out the district the last month of school during the 2011 -2012 school year.  I worked with all the teachers in the district offering them ideas for lessons as well as websites that were easy to use with their classes.  I know that not 100% of the teachers embraced and even used this new tool.  But, I also know that several did and the students enjoyed it! 

That lead me to my action research plan ---"Does BYOT/BYOD affect student engagement, student passing rate and behavior referrals?

Week 4 -EDLD5301 Research

I'm quite concerned that no one has posted any thoughts about my action research.  As part of our assingment this week we are asked to review 2 comments.  I can't review 2 since I have none!  If you are following this blog could you please post something for me to review?

My action research is:  Is there a correlation between the use of BYOT/BYOD in the secondary classroom and student engagement, student course passing rates and behavior refferals?

In reviewing last weeks post it copied over really strangely and maybe that is why no on has responded.