Jean Piaget’s quote tells me that abstraction really is to trick your mind; setting it up. I can relate to this as I am not good with just having to know something. I have to see the process in how it works in order to remember it. Math has always been hard for me because of this. Memorizing formula’s is a struggle for me. Having a process makes it stick better. It has been over 20 years since graduating high school and I never did well in math then. When it came time for college math classes, 18-19 years later, I had a hard time. Giving concrete would be the basics; like times tables. That is one thing you just have to learn and no way of setting up. From that, you can move on. In my math classes, I remember struggling at the beginning because I had to just remember formulas. But, as the semester went on, everything I was learning was coming together to make sense. So problems, such as quadratic formulas made sense. For example, using the box method to figure out X. That helped me work through problems to get answers. Math can be tricky, but once you understand and remember certain formulas, they can all sort of connect together.

This week wraps up my final post and learning in my Digital and Technology course at The University of La Verne. I have thoroughly enjoyed this course and have learned so much.

I have learned about a variety of tech tools that I never knew existed before this class. As an instructional aide currently, and a student in the Education program, I have been able to utilize these tools already in my work, as well as for my own children.

Another great take away from this course, is the multiple ways one can teach. My eyes have been opened to a whole new world and different ways of teaching. Technology is everywhere and students tend to be a lot more engaged when it comes to using tech to teach.

Having this blog, learning how to blog and creating a website was a huge plus for me. I see great potential in theses sites helping make my teaching career much easier and more organized.

So many wonderful tools, so many ways to teach, and great resources have all been amazing to learn. I highly suggest this class as a wonderful tool, not only for teaching, but for life in general. It is a technology based world and the more knowledge we have, the better.

In weeks 12 and 13, we learned about Project Based Learning (PBL) in my tech class. We are reading in our textbook; Reinventing Project-Based Learning, and read chapters 3-5.

I learned a lot of great information on how to facilitate project-based learning and how to engage students. It is important to let the ideas come from students and be based on their thoughts and opinions. Textbooks can be used as reference but not as a basis for learning. This really helps engage the students.

It is also important to manage and asses where students are in their project by creating check lists and time lines. Also having their grades and information available online for easy access for the teacher and guardians. These steps help hold the student’s accountable.

PBL is a fun, interactive way to learn and I am looking forward to using this strategy when I become a teacher.

Weeks 10 and 11 have been great. I really have enjoyed this technology class and love learning how to implement technology into the classroom setting. I am learning stuff I never even realized existed!

This week, we created a ‘My Map’ in Google Maps, and learned how to create our own maps with points of interests. It was a fun thing to learn. It has also been great practice using the Screencast.

In the past two weeks, I have learned more fun and engaging ways to teach using technology. We did a book report on a book we chose out of a list. I created a review via power point and screen cast. I learned a lot about STEAM classrooms and hands on teaching.

Also this week, I was able to create a QR code. Technology is so fascinating to me. So much available at our fingertips. Being able to create a QR code was fun and I did not realize that it was so easy! I really am enjoying this class a lot.

So far, in my Digital Literacy class, we have learned a lot of great tools. Sometimes the information and directions seem a little vague, and it takes me a bit to figure out what is being asked of me, but for the most part, it has been a wonderful class.

I enjoy building my e portfolio every week and learning more about it every time I add a page. I have also been able to utilize my newfound skill of screen-casting, in another ULV class that I have. We had to create a media-based presentation, and I was able to create a fun PowerPoint with screen-cast thanks to this class; it was fun.

The past two weeks in my technology class has been a fun experience for me. I really enjoyed learning how to screen-cast and I have a lot of fun doing power points. With the screen-cast, I struggled at the beginning because it is a completely new concept for me; but I love it. It is easy to use and using the recommended headset that I purchased, the sound quality is great.

I enjoyed learning about flipped classrooms as well. Again, a new concept that I had not heard of. As a mother, I would love for my children to have that opportunity and might look into it when I become an educator myself. There are so many pressures in school now, much more than there used to be. I feel a flipped classroom would help kids learn without as much distraction from an overcrowded classroom.

The first two weeks have been eye opening and interesting. There has been a lot of wonderful information regarding technology and how it effects children’s learning both negatively and positively, which is helpful knowledge for a future teacher.

When it comes to the blogging and using WordPress.com, it has been a little confusing and I am still learning how to navigate it. Google sites for my E-Portfolio, however, was a great resource and easy to use; very user friendly. This is another tool that will help me in the future as an educator. I will not only be able to know how to create my own site for students and parents, I will be able to teach my future students how to create a site as well. This would be a great tool for older kid’s assignments.

Hello and welcome to my blog for ULV and my educational journey. I am a mother of three kids and decided to go back to school and achieve my long time goal of becoming a teacher. During the day, I work as an aide in a Moderate/Severe Special Education classroom. My goal is to earn a credential in Moderate/Severe Special Education as well as an Adaptive Physical Education Credential. This is the first time I have ever created a blog and I am looking forward to a wonderful, successful year!