This Blog


This blog is designed to reflect on my experiences with technology integration throughout the Fall Semester of 2010. It is being written in accordance with guidelines given in MEDT 7464 – Technology Integration. Hopefully by the end of the semester it will be a good resource that can be used as a reference tool for my own teaching as well as something that I can share with my department. My goal is to give a thoughtful post to each writing prompt that will be insightful and meaningful. I hope that it will continue to help in my endeavor to increase student learning and achievement throughout my department.

Featured Website

The website I am currently featuring is titled Rubistar. Rubistar is a free tool that helps teachers create rubrics for project-based learning activities. It requires teachers to register in order to use the site and create rubrics. The site also features the ability to make rubrics interactive. The rubrics can be used with Blackboard and Moodle. Users can also download their file to an Excel Spreadsheet. There are also customizable rubric templates that are available. This seems to be a useful site that can help in the assessment of technology projects in any grade level. I have enjoyed browsing through it and hope that you will too!

You can find this site at http://rubistar.4teachers.org/

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

The Comic Life Experience

The Comic Life program is a very cool tool that I was able to use for my second project in this class.  Even though I am not sure if I would use it in my classroom I can see how it would be great in many different types of classes.  My classes are just not able to purchase the software right now.  I think that especially elementary level students could learn a lot and benefit from creating their own comic strip.  It could also be used as something to get the students thinking as they walk in the door (kind of like an ice-breaker or warm-up).

I really enjoyed the different filters I was able to apply to the pictures once they were put into my comic.  They really added a sense of authenticity to the comic strip.  It wasn't just pictures with text boxes anymore.  I also like the freedom that I had to manipulate certain things about the comic.  All of the handles that were on pictures and text bubbles were useful.  They helped me create a better look for my comic.  I also learned that creating a story that is short but that teaches isn't the easiest thing to do.  It took a while to figure out exactly what approach I wanted to take with the comic.  When I finished and started working on my lesson plan I took a totally different approach for that aspect. 

I guess what I am trying to say is that the Comic Life software is a great tool, but it takes time and creativity to master.  Hopefully one day I will be able to play with it some more.  It was fun once I got going with it.

Here's a link to my Comic Life project, hope you enjoy it!
http://7464-comiclife-adaniel.wikispaces.com/
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)