My favorite assignment was when I made a video from my own pictures using the site Animoto. It was fun and very easy to do. I think my students would like to use this program. It would be a great way to learn about my students. As an ice breaker I could have them make a short video of their favorite hobby. They would have pictures of them doing this hobby and with these pictures create their video. I think this would be a good way to meet my students, but also in a fun way for them.
Another assignment I enjoyed doing was picture editing. I think this is a great way for students to be creative and use their imagination. Almost everyone has a phone that takes pictures. Everyone is taking pictures and a lot of people take multiple pictures a day. Editing your own personal photos is fun. I think students could enjoy this activity because it is relevant. I don't know anyone who hasn't taken a "selfie." Students can edit their selfies and have fun with their pictures. It allows students to be creative and make a final product that they can be happy with.
One program I have started using a lot of is Google Drive. I like how you can share with other people and these people can edit what you have shared. I think this makes it easier to do group work, especially when it is hard for all members to get together at once. It's a lot simpler to use Google Drive then it is to always e-mail yourself things. For example, I always used to e-mail myself assignments I had done so that I could have access to them where ever I went. Now, with Google Drive, I don't have to worry about e-mailing myself all the time. I can access my assignments on any computer. This is a tool I think anyone could use, not just students.
Overall, I have learned tons of things in my ICT course. There was many programs and sites I have not even heard of before taking this course. Weebly is a great site to make websites or e-portfolios. It is very user friendly and I would recommend anyone to this site to play around on. I have learned how to embed videos (which is a lot easier then I had ever imagined). Now I have to try and remember all this information and all these programs so that I can use them in my classroom! This class was very informative for me and I'm glad I had the opportunity to take it!
This is my last blog for this course, but I am considering keeping up with my blogging. I didn't think I would enjoy it this much to be honest. I think I would incorporate a blog into my classroom. I would have a weekly question that students can talk about and debate. It would be open for the whole class to keep informed about events, activities, homework, and whatever else that may be useful or helpful for the class. They could blog about resources they have found or an experiment they have conducted. This keeps the class in touch with one another and they are able to learn from one another in a fun way.
Well, for now good bye, but I'm sure I will be back with another blog in the near future!
Lindsay Smith :)
