Harper's Blog

 In Assignment 5: PowerPoint Interaction, I learned how to add clickable links and buttons to make my slides more interesting. I also got better at organizing information clearly and making my slides look nice. I enjoyed being creative with the interactive features, but it was tricky to make sure all the links worked perfectly. Next time, I will plan my slides more carefully and test the links before finishing the presentation. As a future teacher, I think tools like Qualtrics will help me collect feedback from students and parents. For example, if I teach middle school science, I can use surveys to find out what lessons students like or find hard. This will help me change my teaching to better fit their needs and keep them interested. I can also learn about how students prefer to study or learn. The next tech skill I want to learn is how to use Google Forms and Sheets to collect and organize student information. My goal is to learn this by the end of the semester. I will watch v...

 In my K-12 years, I used different tools for distance learning, especially when we couldn’t go to school. I used Google Classroom and Zoom to get assignments and join live classes. These tools worked well most of the time, but sometimes there were problems like internet issues or distractions at home. I haven’t tried virtual reality for learning yet, but I would like to because they seem fun and could make lessons more interesting. Open Educational Resources, or OER, are free learning materials like books, videos, and worksheets that anyone can use and share. They help students and teachers by making learning easier and cheaper because you don’t have to buy expensive books. Teachers can also change these resources to fit what their students need. I found this article about OER: https://www.odu.edu/facultydevelopment/article/unlocking-the-potential-of-open-educational-resources-trends-benefits  Here is a brief synopsis: The article explains that while OER are often noted for s...

 

 Working on the Web Design assignment taught me how to make websites look nice and easy to use. I learned to use balance by placing things evenly so the page doesn’t look messy. For example, I lined up pictures and text in straight rows. I also used contrast by picking colors that made important buttons stand out, like bright buttons on a plain background. I kept the style the same throughout, using the same fonts and colors to make it look neat. In the future, I can use these skills to build websites for jobs, school projects, or personal use. A fun way to use QR codes in class is by making a “QR Code Treasure Hunt.” I could hide QR codes around the room that link to videos or questions about the lesson. For example, in history, students could scan codes to watch short videos and answer questions. This would make learning more active and exciting. Case: A teacher uses an app that watches what students do online during class to help them focus. Some students feel uncomfortable b...