Final Reflection

My Learning Experiences

This class has caused me tremendous sleepless nights, I must say, as I’ve pulled several “all-nighters,” working through the night in order to comply with all of the required assignments, but from the bottom of my heart, "It was all well worth it." I’m near the end of my journey in my LS Graduate program, and this class has been one of the most important classes I've taken. I think this course will help me immensely as a teacher and as a future Librarian. I’ve learned about the functionality of different technology gadgets, programs, and tools that I can’t wait to implement in my lessons with my students this upcoming school year.

I must say that the Journal readings and searching for 5 articles using the SHSU online library was a challenging assignment. I struggled finding the articles using our SHSU online library. I’ve had only used it two or three times prior to this assignment and I was not that familiar with it. I’ve always used my own data-bases, whether from the district I used to work before or from the McAllen Public Library.  It was good that I struggled because I became my own teacher and I learned to be resourceful on my own. I embarked on chatting live with our SHSU Librarian as she guided me on how to find a specific article, and after that I searched on my own. It was time-consuming. I guess some of us don’t like to step out of our comfort zones and that’s what happened to me. I’ve been using the data-bases I’m familiar with. I can connect this experience with my students, since I will better understand them when they encounter a subject, theme, or topic they don’t feel comfortable learning. There are ways to help them step out of their comfort zone like this assignment made me do. Now, I feel more confident if I have to use the SHSU Online Library again. I ended up using like 8 articles if I’m not mistaken for this assignment. It took me like two and a half days to complete. But, oh the feeling I felt when I finished, it was amazing. A feeling of worthiness and accomplishment since I figured it out on my own and with the help of the additional resource- SHSU Librarian.

Another assignment that I found challenging to do was creating the infographic, and that’s because I chose an easy template. I felt like I needed to “play around” with that program more, although in the end, I felt it was simple to create. I know that if I go back and experience working with the program some more I will understand it better.

Oh! I can’t forget the frustration I experienced trying to download Java Script when I tried creating a screencast using Screenr. I still can’t uploaded to my computer. This experience forced me to exhaust all of my means. I read everything provided by Java, as far as how to upload it and even reading all that additional information I still couldn’t upload Java, but I have to say I didn’t give up on the assignment in which I had to create two screencasts. I read the extra credit assignment information and the directions only stated that I had to create a Jing for 10 extra points. I was like …. “What in the world is Jing?” Again, this assignment encouraged me to do some research and I ended loving the experience. Not only did I create a Jing, but I also discovered Snag-it through TechSmith, which is an extension to Jing for additional or unlimited recording time of capture videos since Jing only allows 5 minute videos or screencasts. I ended up creating a screencast using Snag-it. I believe things happen for a reason, therefore if I would have not encountered the Java problem, maybe I would have not investigated “Jing.” By doing so, I’ve discovered a new tool that could help me in the future to create captures, videos, and screencasts.

The rest of the technology assignments were simple to do, all of the directions provided were thorough, and therefore it made my learning experiences much easier. What do I learn from this statement? I will make sure to provide thorough directions and create thorough lesson plans so that my students have a better learning experience as well. All of the technology assignments had tutorials, and if the assignment or tool didn’t provide a tutorial link, I googled for one before I embarked myself in using that particular technology tool to create my assignment.

I loved creating the cartoons and comics. I sure enjoyed learning how to put the characters, speech bubbles, and background settings in the template squares by double clicking on them. Learning the functionality of each icon and features on the different cartoons and comics sites was something new to me, but easy to understand. I loved using the three sites to create my comic strips.

Instagram was extremely easy to use. I learned that I needed an app to add text on the pictures. This was new to me too, but I was very happy when I found the Pic O Graph app that had gone free the day I uploaded it. I used the app to add text to my pictures before I uploaded them to Instagram. This is another excellent tool that I will use to promote reading and books, by showcasing pictures of books with text in them like the picture I shared on Instagram with The One and Only Ivan book’s page.

My favorite tool was Animoto, which I used to create the book trailer. I know my students will benefit from all of these tools as I plan to implement the use of each one in their own special way. But I know they will love learning from the future book trailers I will create as I plan to continue to use Animoto. I just discovered a fun way to promote passages, stories, and books. I know this tool will help me motivate students to pick up a book and read it. I know it will also help students think different of how they currently see books and their stories. 

The book trailer was easy to create. I uploaded images and pictures that went along with the book and I typed in some phrases and sentences that dealt with the book’s story. I then decided the sequence of the templates. After that, I chose some calm loving background music which I thought made a connection to the book’s theme. I finalized everything by putting the trailer together. It turned out really nice. I had always wondered how book trailers were made, but with so much studying and taking classes semester after semester, I had never made time to research on the making of book trailers. Now, I know, and I’m glad this was one of the assignments for this class.

  

As I’m going down memory lane, I know that all of the assignments I learned about and created during the entire semester will help me in some way or another. I know that I will implement the use of each tool depending on the needs of my students and topics discussed in my future lessons. But I feel better prepared and aware of how our technology world works. In other words, I feel I will be better connected to my students, as I now know a lot more of “their” and “our” technology world.