Reflection 1

Reflection 1-
This assignment was somewhat difficult because I wasn't sure what to say for my goals. I was tentative about taking this course because I didn't know how I was going to approach it. Most of the people that I talked to that are taking this class have a very broad knowledge of all of the things we are going to be going over and learning. This made me not want to take the class because I didn't want to be the only one who didn't know anything. My goals range from improving my use with basic things that I encounter daily, such as Microsoft Word, to learning how to do something I've never done before, such as making an electronic portfolio. I have never evaluated myself with my abilities with computers and it is very interesting to see that there are so many programs and features available to use on a computer that I never even noticed before. I am very eager to learn about all of these different aspects and be able to use them from now on. This assignment really helped me to see what I was going to be learning and also how I was going to challenge myself by doing so. I know that most of this stuff will not come easy to me, but at the same time I will have a positive attitude and know that all of these things will help me be a better teacher who can relate to the students and the technology that they are growing up with. From doing this assignment, saying my goals made it easier for me to map out what is coming. I feel like I should be evaluating myself in every class I am taking, that way, I will be less nervous and more confident to perform a task because I will be prepared for what is coming. I think just writing this reflection alone has helped me to better understand what will be expected in this course. This assignment contributed to my understanding of integrating technology into the education process because I truly realize now how important technology is and also how important it is to make sure I keep up with the newest technology. Everything we are doing in our class is really important to know to be able to relate to our students as best as we can. Students don't want to have a teacher who lectures. They want teachers with power points and web pages so they can be visually stimulated.

Assignment #1

I have a lot of learning objectives/goals for myself while taking this course. I have never been the type to be very comfortable using a computer. I am usually always the person who is writing things down when everyone else is typing, but I have to learn more about the computer because technology is quickly advancing. One of my goals is to become more familiar with the other tools in the Microsoft Office Suite. I am familiar with Microsoft word and how to type documents and essays, but I have only made a few powerpoints in my life and I have never used Excel. I think that these programs would benefit me a lot and I am looking forward to learning more about them. Another goal I have is to be able to learn how to make my own webpage. This is something that I have only done once for a class but I do not remember how to do it at all. This could be very useful for putting up information about myself for job opportunities (like what you showed us in class) or just a place for friends and family to view. My third goal is to be able to learn more about Mac computers. I would just really like to know the basic functions and be able to use them. I have never used a Mac and I just am curious to know why so many people prefer them over PCs. I know we won't be focusing on learning how to use them but I think it would be interesting to try using one for one of my projects. My 4th goal is to learn how to attach hyperlinks onto webpages. I have always wondered how to do this. The webpage you showed us was really organized and had multiple links, such as the link to your trip to China. This is a really good way to organize everything and make it easier for the viewer to access. My last goal is to be able to make the electronic portfolio really well. I am a bit nervous for this assignment and it sounds intimidating but I feel confident that I will learn what I need to know to be able to do this. All of my goals are mainly for my own benefit, but they will also help me very soon when I am out of college and starting my career. I will hopefully be able to make impressive powerpoints and webpages to help me teach and convey the material better to the students.