Final Reflection

I have researched many apps and websites.  I consider myself to be a techie kind of person since my job before I become a teacher was a Technology Technician.  And I know there are many new apps and website that I will need to learn technology changes on a daily basis.  As I think back on the course that I am finishing up.  There were some technology apps that I really like, ones that caused me to be frustrated and will never use, and others that I used in the library the next week. Also there is some I will never get to use because of the websites being blocked.

Which ones I liked the most?

I really enjoyed using ToonDoo to make comic strips.The comic strips were also fun and students love doing them.  I have used this site with my older students and they enjoyed it.  This was a great way to pull my students into a unit and let them show their knowledge in many different way.  Students beg to do this program, so we use it at least once every nine weeks.

There is so much information on YouTube that my teachers and I use it all the time.  Our students enjoy it.  Students can use YouTube to help with homework.  QR codes are great for the classroom as they also the students to get to sites quickly without fumbling through URLs and students love to have scavenger hunts.

The screencasts are beneficial and in my favorite.  At the beginning I had problems using it but after using is for a while it became user friendly.  We use screencast for book trailers, directions, and interviews.  Students also use screencast to make book reviews and help other students understand a concept.

Which ones I liked the least?

Some of my least favorite apps and websites are the social media sites, like Vine and Instagram.  These are helpful in sharing information and getting my students to buy in the assignment. This is valuable because this is where the most of my students live.  They were fun and interesting but like any other social media site must be kept up with.

I personally do not like podcasts.  It is a great way to give directions to students but I have such a strong Texas accent that I sound funny.  I use it for different stations but let students record the directions.  The students take ownership to each podcast.

I was not so impressed with the online book communities.  I cannot connect with other readers on Facebook because of the block site.  They were fun and interesting.

I was not impressed with Piktochart either.  It was difficult to use.  I will not be using this product.

There are so many applications on the World Wide Web that are great for education.  The only bad thing that I have found is that my school blocks so many sites and to get them unblocked you have to write why you want it unblocked and how you will use it.  Who has time for this!