Let’s Get Digital! Ready or Not, Here We Go!
Activity Reflection #5
Let’s just say this week’s assignment kicked me hard! I honestly did not think it would take me three days to complete! I had to call out of work and stay up late just to finish it. Our assignment for the week was to create our own curriculum page on our Wiki page; I thought to my self this shouldn’t be too hard. Boy was I wrong, and from reading some of my classmate’s blog they were struggling a bit too. So I did not feel completely alone. It was more of the formatting than what I wanted to say that got me all mixed up, as I have stated before I am not 100% tech savvy, and once again this assignment shows. I turned to our text book Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom, Gunter 2010. To get some information in chapter 7 there is a special feature from pages 450-468 that provided a ton of information as far as formatting and several examples.
I also used all of the resources provided in the module, included the link creating a curriculum page using Microsoft. http://oc.course.com/sc/tdc5/index.cfm?action=overviewflash&chapter=7 The issue I had was after I spent hours working on it, I tried to copy and paste it in side my Wiki space and it distorted and none of my pictures loaded in! I was so upset and sleep deprived I wanted to cry. I loved the Microsoft feature, but I was useless because I couldn’t get it to work, maybe its not supposed to go on Wiki space but as a stand along page??
I ended up changing everything and used this link http://webquest.sdsu.edu/templates/lesson-template1.htm and it is what I modeled mine to look like. I was not happy having to use someone else’s design but I was getting frustrated and my patience was gone. After I created the page I copy and pasted it into my Wiki space and all my bullets got messed up and my pictures deleted! Apparently they had to be added in late but this further messed up my page. Some how I made two pages and cant figure out how to delete the first one so if anyone has a step by step instruction and are willing to help me please do so!
Over all I enjoyed creating a project for my make believe class, I hope I will get to use this project when I do become a teacher. I feel that my project will help students love history as much as I do and get to flex their creative muscles as well. Once I figure out the kinks I hope my page will look very nice. I plan on adding a rubric and a check list for my “students” when I figure out how. J
Well with out further a do… enjoy my page!
Reference:
Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom, 6th Ed., Shelly, Cashman, Gunter, and Gunter. Course Technology - Thompson Publishing (2010)
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI have to agree this assignment was a doozy. Thank goodness for Spring break and I'm still not satisfied with my page but I gave it a good try.Don't worry about using someone's design. I read somewhere as long as you have the information to support your ideas its o.k.. I truly understand how you feel. I had everything laid out. I even created a mini movie. I was so proud of myself.I put all the information on wikispaces and I still couldn't begin to tell you where it went. Not to fret. Practice makes perfect. This class has definetly posed some challenges, but I'm sure we'll rise above. The topic you used was great. I'm sure that when you get a classroom your students will enjoy using the various interactive tools to learn about history.
Darleen,
ReplyDeleteOne of the best things I've ever learned in my experiences with teachers is this sage advice: If someone else has already done it, and it works, why not make it work for you? As much as I love making things from scratch, I will never scoff at the opportunity of a ready-made template that will save me valuable time. Clearly, I think you've learned that lesson, too! I had a bit of a go with those templates as well, but felt they didn't really work for what I had in mind for my page (bland though it is). You, however, really harnessed them and made it work for you regardless of technological setbacks.
Your page looks fantastic and the content is spot on. One thing I really like about it is how smooth and easy to follow it is. I hate some pages where things are just jumbled everywhere and it takes serious hunting to find the example project or where the rubric is. I can't wait to see the finished product.
Hey Darleen-
ReplyDeleteI felt so bad for you when I read your post!! But good for you for not giving up!! I have also spent many days/nights/weeks like this before, so I get it! I agree with what Julie said above. Even though you want to make something all your own, sometimes it is easier to just modify what someone else has made. I often want to make my own thing and I also don't like using other peoples templates....but I have also discovered that sometimes this is just a better way to go!
Your page came out really nice. I think you put a lot of great information on it that would be great for students. How do you think you will evaluate your students? Will you put the criteria into a rubric or use something else? I like that you sis make it clear to your students what is expected out of this project!
I hope that the rest of this project turns out to be a little easier for you. So far it looks great!
Thanks for sharing!
-Catherine
I understand your frustration but really think you are now off to a great start. I did the same thing that you did in Microsoft Word and agree that it doesn't work in the Wiki sites. Going through that seemed to take you a long time like it did me. I think your project is a wonderful idea and I see you have some valuable websites as resources.
ReplyDeleteI also am still trying to get over using other's templates and ideas. Frankly, now I really don't think there is anything wrong with it. Can you imagine if we had to create everything ourselves-we could never do it. I believe I am finally understanding this.
I also felt bad when I read your post! I struggled with my Wiki as well, and basically have to completely add a bunch of stuff to it because I feel as if it is lacking a certain something...? Anyway, all of your efforts paid off because I think your wiki looks great and is great!
ReplyDeleteAs for borrowing the template, don't worry about it. Teachers are the greatest borrowers/ thieves ever because we always borrow, edit, and recycle everyone else's material. The most important part is that you give credit to the original creator somewhere. Most teachers I've met are always very willing to share. :)