Webquest!!

Although this last week was a personal disaster [my apartment flooding... an emergency relocation, living out of my car, finding a house, noting damages, rearranging bills, etc.] I have managed, although late with good reason, to complete the Webquest assignment. This assignment actually answered numerous question I had regarding how professors created/organized online classes. I've never created a web page, so my topic was something I actually assigned during my clinical...the student creation of an ABC Booklet focused on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet.

WEBQUEST!

EXCEL Formatting & Manipulating Raw Data

I have honestly not worked with Excel this much since I was enrolled in the required high school computer literacy course. The functions were not difficult to figure out, with the assistance of the "help" button... After I remembered the initial '=' sign, it was all up-hill. I was unsure where exactly to position the new data, so I just included it in the columns below the original information. I really needed this refresher on Excel, especially with the possibilities of recording such data in the future (grades, too).


Excelling in this course!

Google Assessments :o]

Here's the link to the "Romeo & Juliet" Quiz One. This google capability is amazing...this is very practical for online courses, since results can immediately be viewed and classified alphabetically. The instructional video was also very easy to understand. The questions all are capable of being answered correctly in my 9th Grade clinical Literature class.


Take it, go on!

Rubric!!

I am very glad there is such a web page as Rubistar. In my clinicals right now, I am actually helping my cooperating teacher with the instruction of Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet." I was given the option of assigning a short essay or create a mixed (T/F & Matching) assessment. In a couple weeks I am going to assign a persuasive essay, and eventually use this in my portfolio. The existing criteria is a nice thing to build on, and if I wasn't a poor college student, I would contribute to this site. :o]





rubric: Romeo & Juliet.

Windows Movie Maker!

Although I had the program, Windows Movie Maker, I've never used it. The program turns out to be very easy; however the instructional video in the course assignment was greatly appreciated! This is the first assignment, in a good while, which I haven't experienced some form of technological difficulties. :0] My computer, which I purchased for Christmas, does not have PowerPoint, so I use my roommate's computer...not the greatest piece of technology. Anyhow... transferring, saving, and publishing the slide show from PowerPoint to Windows Movie Maker makes the video not only easily accessible from my computer, but to post on the web, email, or use in the classroom. I will definitely be using this program again...Who doesn't like a movie?


Windows Movie Maker

Google Presentations.

Published Presentation

PDF & FTP

The first link to is to the PowerPoint I uploaded, published, & previewed; the second one is the FTP link where I saved the PDF version I downloaded from Google, since you cannot publish PDF, only "share." I did 'share' it with the instructor. PDF is preferred, since it's so compatible. It was work figuring this out...however, I believe I have a basic understanding now. *wipes brow. The presentation is a group project from my undergrad studies of applying Literary Theory & my favorite author, Sylvia Plath. Enjoy.

Jeopardy PowerPoint!

Here's the Link to my Jeopardy Game; it features 12th Grade English Literature questions concerning five studied authors [Shakespeare, Milton, Poe, Chaucer, & London.] The questions are challanging, yet possible. :o] I've never used Action Buttons before, so it did take a while to understand the format. I would like to use this game-presentation in my student teaching next fall semester!



Thank you Alex.

PowerPointing...

Here's the link to a PowerPoint presentation on the History of Book Burning. I selected this topic, as a secondary English educator, because it will hopefully motivate students to think of literature/English classes not as a requirement- but as an opportunity for knowledge. I have constructed PowerPoints and used them before in classrooms-slide shows are amazing assets/outlines for teaching.

http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=dfb9mt3s_14hs8h8tcs


Here's the correct link! *Added 3/13/09. Sorry!!

PODCASTIC!

Well....to make a long-story short...[after repeated computer services phone calls, downloading the wrong Audacity program, being unable to successfully access my FTP] Here's the finished product! A 4:30 minute, complete with music, 9th Grade introduction lesson on Edgar Allen Poe & "The Masque of the Red Death." The only file I was able to successfully save was the incorrect voice-over....but here's the end result. Enjoy. Although this has been the most frustrating project, I am glad I now have the ability to podcast-and apologize for the late submission.

It's Poe, Yo.

Link to Script:

Scriptastic

Web Album :o]

Personal Web Album!

I have pictures on various websites such as Facebook & Myspace, so finding photos for this Web Album assignment was not difficult; it was just a matter of gathering and finding an accessible host website [Google]. Web-based albums could help with classroom research, presentations, and illustration of group work. I highly respect Google, and previous this course I was unaware of its numerous capabilities. I will most likely continue to store photos via Google, however Photoshop Express has great editing tools.

Photoshopping Expressing!

This was my first time experimenting with Photoshop Express, and I found it to be quite the free editing software! It would be handy for personal/classroom use; students working on a presentation could upload/edit photos, while as an educator I could link/share albums relating to course material. I wish there were more graphics for decorating; however, I should not complain since it is free... I did enjoy playing around and 'popping' colors. Overall, the website was easy to navigate; I did have some initial difficultly saving edited pictures to my desktop.

amazing gallery!

'Not So' Crappy Graphics...

Turns out... "Crappy Graphics" is pretty darn good. As an English content major, it was a little difficult at first formulate an idea... but then numbers from my previous lesson plan entered my head! As Secondary Education, I would recommend this tool to students; I could have greatly used this for high school math/science presentations.... I could even use this website now to help display evidence for my Action Research Proposal. I could not figure out on the 'create' page how to 'undo' painting errors... I had to start a new graph each time. Although 'Crappy' is good, I still found Kid's Zone easier, since it's so straightforward. This exercise fulfills 3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning: to "design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity." It allowed for reflection & promoted my future recommendation of the website in the classroom.

kind of crappy?

Online Graphics - Kids Zone!

Lovely Chart One illustrates the 4th Grade National Math Score Average from 2000-2007 in comparison to West Virginia's 'progress.' While the Nation's scores are on the move upward, my home state's scores are not showing any definite positive trend.

Wonderful Graph Two compares the 4 lowest income states with the percentage of students with an IEP. Although all of the numbers are higher than wealthier regions, West Virginia's percentage is still significantly higher than the other low-income states.

The information was retrieved from IES: National Center for Educational Statistics, courtesy of the U.S. Dept. of Education. Here's link to the charts!!! Graphing with Kids Zone was actually quite simple; I found it to be a useful link!


http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfb9mt3s_9dmq49dgf

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfb9mt3s_11htq6q2d3

The AMAZING Prnt Scrn Button!!!!

After discovering the amazing "Prnt Scrn" Button, I used Paint and once again uploaded through PhotoBucket my desktop background image of the amazing Mr. Colin Firth [with my painted lips on his].... :o] Although this image is from the literary movie Pride & Prejudice, I don't believe it would serve much help in the classroom...haha. However, this capability would be great for teaching web-classes and illustrating how a particular page/image should successfully appear. I love new-found technology!

Desktop Graphic

[Desktop Graphic]

When asked to create a graphic... I immediately considered one of the first programs I became acquainted with on a computer... Paint. Being quite comfortable with Paint and using my new-found knowledge of photobucket, I uploaded the amazing graphic to my blog! Since I am a Secondary-English educator, I selected a famous nature poem by Sylvia Plath with the background of actual blackberries, giving readers more of a visual introduction to the poem. Plath fills her poetry with metaphors, amazing in depth; the physical picture of berries behind the poem also creates focus for first-time readers. The photograph is a picture I took on my farm. The only difficulty I found with Paint was the text format options are limited; black was the only color that did not get completely over-powered by the bright leaves. Next time I will experiment with PowerPoint, since there are more text options.

~*Still Images*~

The concept of the 'Cone of Experience' was fathered Edgar Dale, one of the initial visual-learning researchers. Although the cone itself is interesting, the popular misconceptions are far more intriguing.... Dale initially presented the cone as a visual metaphor which simply illustrated the different levels of learning, ranging from abstract - concrete. However, over time the placement of the 'actions' gained percentages, ranging from the least effective to the most substantial in learning retention. Although the lower levels are more 'physically orientated,' provoking the senses, and are commonly associated with 'learning is doing'...the idea of having respectable percentages in divisions of 'tens' immediately illustrates the lack of true scientific research.
Regardless of the visible errors and false crediting, my opinion on the overall notion of the levels of retention in regards to abstract [reading] - concrete [preforming] I think is a great educated guess. Current research does illustrate that different tools of learning are quite successful when combined...Nevertheless, the ways in which individuals process information is different; there are different types of learners. If the information twisting Dale's original cone was 100% accurate, then humans would have only one way of learning. Personally, I benefit more from hearing than looking, while 'hearing' is credited above 'looking' on the Cone; my sister is the exact opposite, she is a happy visual learner. :)

Coming Soon:
A completely amazing post on FTP....


Photo: [courtesy LIFE Magazine Archive] *The real man with a plan....

Web Publishing!

Prior this assignment, I was completely unaware of the capabilities of Google. I wish that I would have known about this FREE way to create & share word processor documents, spreadsheets, etc. I also have not completed a current resume for quite sometime [roughly 2-3 years] and as a graduate student, this assignment was in both ways beneficial.... However moderately depressing, since it reminded me of my current job situation. haha. *YAY! Valley Worlds of Fun.... I am almost 23- and completely ready for a 'grown-up job'. Knowledge from this course is pointing me in the right professional direction.

Here's My Exciting Resume:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfb9mt3s_3dh9kwzf3

Who Are You? Intro Movie...Amazing!

Who Am I, anyways?

Upon reviewing the goals section of the EDUC 6305 Syllabus, I've realized how little I pursue opportunities to incorporate technology into any aspect of teaching besides assigning individual research, with the option of using credible web-sources. Although I am not yet an employed educator, having clinicals, tutoring, and working educational children summer programs, is enough past experience to know how much I need a course designed to help me showcase through the web my learning...so eventually I can comfortably teach and give students the opportunity to have more non-traditional methods of illustrating their gained knowledge. For example, even the Microsoft Photo Story assignment, which I am currently completing, intimidates me. However, someday I'd love to have the opportunity to let students express themselves through a similiar assignment; it's a great combination of the internet, personal reflection, and self-expression!

On a side note: anyone interested in a female calico cat? She's technically a stray, but has been living at my apartment [no un-caged animals allowed] for several months. She's lovable and great with house guests.... Only flaw, she wants to eat the roommate's guinea pig.

The Virgin Post

Howdy! As an opening, I thought it best to share a little personal information... My name is Sarah Haught, I graduated from Marshall University Spring 08' with a degree in English Literature; currently I am pursuing my M.A.T. in English [5-12] at Fairmont State. This is only my second semester via online courses... and reviewing the course work requirements for EDUC 6305 is definitely intimidating. I have successfully integrated PowerPoint into my lesson plans during clinicals; however, as an educator of the 21st Century I am aware of my need to absorb as much knowledge from this class as possible. Prior the first week- I had never heard of Skype, written a blog, or had a Gmail account [I'm sure a couple fellow classmates are in similar situations]. I am looking forward to refreshing myself on using spreadsheets and continuing blog posts.

*Random Facts*
In my spare time I play the banjo...
I enjoy dirt-track racing [pure stock cars & 4-wheelers]
I help manage the family business- A berry farm located in Proctor, W.Va.
[blackberries, blueberries, and coming this spring..... black raspberries!]