Piccassohead

For this assignment, I created an abstract piece of art on the Picassohead website.  This was a fun activity and something that I will definitely incorporate into a lesson for my students to use.  I love art, so I enjoyed playing around with the features in creating my abstract image.  This was a great way for me to express my creative and artistic side.  
 
My Picassohead is presented below and can also be found in the Picassohead Gallery.

I didn't have much difficulty in creating my Piccassohead.  I simply went to the site and clicked on create, viewed the features, and selected the images I wanted to add.  I did get stuck on how to delete the unwanted symbols as I was playing around.  I started over once, then I saw the tool bar on the bottom of the screen.  I also noticed the color tool option, so I added color in as well.  I was slightly unsure if I needed to save the image at first, so I did.  Fortunately, I completed the steps successfully in creating my Piccassohead.
I feel that this activity goes along with Teaching Standards 4A and 4D.  I gained professional learning and professional contribution through a new site that I was unfamiliar with.  I can integrate a history lesson and abstract art, and then allow my students to create there own piece of abstract art using the Piccassohead website.   This site will give my students the opportunity to become engaged in global society and with technology.  The students can create and post a Piccassohead to be viewed by others, in accordance with connecting to digital society by viewing other people's created Piccassoheads in the gallery.  This is a great way to incorporate student learning for self knowledge, and also in the digital age of 21st Century leaning.

Resume Revision

For this activity, I took my previous resume and had it scored by RezScore.  Unfortunately, my resume is in desperate need of love and care; I got a C+.  I'm embarrassed to even post this score.  RezScore has indicated that my resume is too short and that I need to lengthen the text.  The site also informed me that I need to remove the objective section and add a personal headline instead, and too also remove first person language which was in my objective.  I am going to make the suggested revisions and hope for a higher score. 

 

WOW! I had to do a great deal of revising.  I added a professional headline and lengthened my resume by adding in accomplishments, community involvement, and technology experiences.  I also lengthened out my text by adwithin the document and changed the font.  After revising my resume three times I finally received an A-.  The site indicated that my resume tells the story of my work history, provides enough detail, and communicates my value.  I'm satisfied, but I'm still going to improve it for an A+.  My re-score results are below. 

Click to view my revised RESUME here.

The revision of my resume goes along with Teaching Standard 4C which is Reflection on Practice.  This activity allowed me to examine my own work and find ways to revise it on a professional level.  My resume was compared with others and scored.  I then had to view templates for other resumes to create mine in a professional manner.  A resume is similar to purchasing a car based on it's fabulous features; I'm trying to sell myself by addressing my accomplishments and qualities to an employer.  This was a neat activity and extremely helpful in creating a sufficient resume. 

 

SNIPPING

The snipping tool is awesome!  I have never used this feature until now. The snipping tool is as simple as copying and pasting.  For this activity, I choose an image that would be valuable to my classmates, and myself.  I am always looking back at assignment due dates to make sure I'm on top of things, and I also noticed that some of my classmates were unable to view the due dates listed on the course through blackboard.  I thought this may help. It's slightly blurry, and I had to snip it into two images to capture the whole image.  This is a simple technique of snipping, saving, and downloading the image. Hope this helps for those of you unable to view the due dates.

EDUC 6305 DUE DATES SNIPPED

For this assignment, I had to snip an image using the snipping tool in Microsoft Word.  First, I chose an image, then snipped it by using the snipping tool.  I was able to drag the cursor over the area of the image I wanted to snip and then save it to the desktop (basically this was the copying step.  I then downloaded (pasted) the image into this blog.  This was simple and sweet!

Once again, I feel that this activity goes along with Teaching Standard 4a.  I feel that I have engaged in professional growth by learning a new professional practice of snipping information.  I have completed a new task and have acquired a new skill to improve my use of technology.  Each day I am learning something new about technology or gaining new skills that will build my confidence and allow me to communicate effectively in this digital society. 

Google Docs

Google Docs has allowed me to create and upload my resume so it can be viewed through technology from the outside world or employers.  This is my second time using Google Docs to upload a pubic file.  It was much easier to complete the task the second time around.  Therefore, I have learned a new skill in the advancement of technology.

The greatest advantage that cloud computing with google has over traditional desktop applications is more mobility.  Cloud computing allows networks to work together and share software which allows us to assess sites and information from any computer's browser anywhere. Cloud computing allows us to use sites where we can post published documents that can be viewed by others.  The main disadvantage of cloud computing is security risks similar to any internet program.

This activity relates to the ISTE Nets Standards in that it allowed me to learn the technological skills needed to publish a document in order to collaborate with the public.  This is important to be able to complete tasks in technology integration in this digital age in order to effectively collaborate with our society and especially in collaboration with our co-workers. This is valuable information that can assist me with communication through technology, and also information that can be taught to my students.   

Millennial Survey

 

After taking the millennial survey, I found that based on my generation my score was on the higher end.  I scored a 96.  Apparently, the higher the score the more I have in common with individuals of the millennial generation.  I was actually surprised that my score was this high.  Based on my generation, I know more then some, but I also feel that there's room for advancement with my learning in this technological age.  Especially, in becoming more knowledgeable with technology and communication that I can use within my classroom to improve my students learning.  The more knowledgeable I am about technology, the more I can teach my students and prepare them for survival and successes in the world. As we learn and progress in the advancements of technology and communication, our generation becomes known as millennial learners. It is important for our generation to become millennial and understand the use of technology and communication to survive in the 21st century.

Frand's 10 Characteristics:
Computers Aren't Technology
Internet Better Than TV
Reality No Longer Real
Doing Rather Than Knowing 
Nintendo over Logic
Multitasking Way of Life
Typing Rather Than Handwriting
Staying Connected
Zero Tolerance for Delays
Consumer/Creator Blurring 

I feel that I'm in terms with all 10 of Frand's characteristics.  I especially, agree with the Internet Better Than TV characteristic.  The internet provides quicker results and is more entertaining compared to TV.  Information can be searched quickly instead of waiting for the six o'clock news on TV, and most importantly there are educational sites with games to enhance the learning of our children.  I definitely agree with the Nintendo over Logic based on trial and error because special education is based on trail and error to determine what works best for our students.   

Reference:

Frand, J. (2000). The information-age mindset:  Changes in students and implications for higher education. EDUCAUSE Review. September/October15-24. Retreived May 25, 2012

 
Assignment Review

For this assignment, I read information on Millennial generation and completed a survey.  I then posted my results from the survey into my blog and commented on effects to improve my teaching and student learning.  I also read the information on Frand's 10 Characteristics.  I listed the 10 Characteristics in my blog and responded if I was in terms with the characteristics. 

This assignment goes along with Teaching Standard 4a: Professional Learning in that I examined myself based on my millennial generation.  This gave me a clearer understanding of where I fall in comparison to others in my age group and generation based on technology and communication.  I was able to identify that I was in the higher range, but that there is always room more improvement and advancement in order to extend my knowledge.  The more I know and understand about technology and communication, the better  prepared I will be in teaching my students the use of these devices to succeed in the outside world.

Self Intro/Voki

Click here to view my online public Google document.

To begin my Voki assignmnt, I wrote an introduction about myself in Microsoft Word. I then went to the Voki website to create an avatar to perform my self introduction. I created my avatar by choosing am image, adding my self introduction text, a speaking voice, a background, and other adjustments of my choice. I then attached the avatar into my blog in HTML format by coping the embedded code from Voki and pasting it into my blog. Next, I uploaded my self introduction file (what the avatar would read) from Microsoft Word into a public Google Document and added the link into my blog post.

In my opinion, this assignment follows along with the West Virginia Revised Teaching Standard 4: Professional Responsibilities for Self-Renewal under 4a. Under this standard, teachers engage in professional learning that critically examine his/her professional practice and engage in a continuous cycle of self-improvement focused on how to learn, teach and work in a global and digital society. Based upon this standard, this assignment introduced me into a new world of learning with the use of technology. I wasn't aware of Voki or the use of creating an avatar. I had several questions along the way, but I finally completed the activities. I enjoyed creating my avatar and I can now incorporate them into my lessons to improve my teaching abilities and student learning. I can use this type of technology in creating avatars to present lessons or introductions to my students in hopes of holding my students attention and expanding their learning.  This assignment has helped me gain knowledge based on global and digital technology that I can use within the 21st Century classroom.

Introduction

Hello, everyone. I am a full time student at FSU working toward my Masters Degree in Special Education (Multi-Categorical 5-Adult). I haven't been on blogger since 2008, so I have to reteach myself how to use the site. Anyway, I look forward to beginning this journey and learning new technological things.