EDU 314 Projects

Our first class project was intended to display the successful creation and publication of the initial draft of our own ePortfolio. We were taught step by step how to create this ePortfolio. I used the program of Netscape Composer to create my ePortfolio. I first began by designing my home page to the best of my ability and then gradually the rest of my ePortfolio followed. Once everything was to my liking, I published it to the web using the program of WS_FTP.

Project # 2: Elementary School Website

For our second project we got into groups and created a website for an elementary school. To do this we used the same technology that we had used to create our ePortfolios, which was the programs of Netscape Composer and WS_FTP. To make this website, our group first created a home page for Cambridge Central Elementary School, which we then linked to a page with the schools calendar, a page for each teacher's classroom, and a page with the school's weekly lunch menu. We then used links to link each page to each other and to the home page, so that the website was very easy to maneuver around.

Project # 3: Webquest

For our third project we designed a webquest that students can use to learn about different biomes through the use of technology, specifically the internet. To create this project once again we used Netscape Composer. Our group chose to do the Amazon Rainforest Biome. First we webquest home page and then we linked this to several other pages. The introduction page introduced the main character. The Friends and Family page introduced the main character's friends and family. The My Home Page presented where the main character lived and what the climate is like. The My Biome page gave detailed information about the Amazon Rainforest Biome including some animals that live there. The page titled The Problem presented the students with a real life problem that has been plaguing the Amazon Rainforest Biome. The What Can Be Done page invited the students to investigate the problem presented by way of some websites that we included on this page. The Write to Me page presented the students with an email address where they could email us with some ideas about what can be done to solve this problem that they had found while they were researching.

Project # 4: Power Point Project

The purpose of this project was to become familiar with the program of microsoft power point and successfully create a power point presentation to demonstrate our competency in using it. I believe that when used properly power points can be an extremlely useful tool in engaging the students duing your lessons. To complete this project I used microsoft power point to create a power point presentation on some thing that I was interested in, which is something you could have your students do! The topic that I chose to do it on was the Yankees, but if I was having my students do one I would have them do a more educationally relevant topic. I used many different types of effects in the presentation to grab the viewers attention and I also used many pictures to give the viewer both a visual and textual experience. I believe that power point is an invaluable resource for a teacher and should be used in their curriculums to give the students a chance to get the information you want them to have and at the same time have a visually stimulating experience that will better allow them to remember what has just been presented to them.

Project # 5: Microsoft Word Project

The purpose of this project was to become familiar with the many special features of Microsoft Word. To begin with I created an acrostic name poem that displayed different adjectives that described me that started with the first letters of my name. To do this I used the function known as word art, which allowed me to be creative when using different colors, fonts, and different types of word art! This activity is a good community builder for teachers to use because it could introduce the students to you and to each other. The second part of this project was to use backgrounds and borders to create an informative paper. For this I made an announcement telling parents about a Halloween party that the fifth grade classes in our school would be holding. I used a unique border and also used a creative watermark for the background image to make the announcement more attractive to the eye. The third and final part of this project was to create a trading care or in other words a flash card. I chose the state of New York and included images and facts that are representative of the state. I never knew that you could make flash cards using word and I think this is a great resource to help students study for exams with!

Project # 6: Microsoft Publisher Project

For this project we were left to teach ourselves or to work with our peers to figure out how to use Microsoft publisher. We had to use the program of Microsoft Publisher to create a calandar and a newsletter that might be used in an elementary school classroom. I learned quite a bit from the mini presentations that my classmates did on different little tricks in Microsoft Publisher. I found both the calendar and the newsletter fairly east to make. However, I found the hardest part to be coming up with ideas of what to include on the calendar and in the newsletter. We were supposed to include things that might actually be found in a calendar or a newsletter for an elementary school. For the calendar I chose to do the month of October and since the calendar and newsletter had to be related in some way I chose to do the newsletter on Columbus Day since that is in the month of October. To help me with this project I used three websites to teach me about Publisher:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/CR061832741033.aspx
http://www.learnthat.com/courses/computer/publisher2003/
http://www.softwaretrainingtutorials.com/ms-publisher-2003.php

These websites were extremely helpful in teaching my how to use Microsoft Publisher in the classroom! Over all I feel that I am very comfortable with the program of Microsoft Publisher!

Project # 7: Puzzle Maker Project

The purpose of this project was to use Puzzle Maker to create an educational puzzle for students to complete. I used puzzlemaker from discovery.com, which gave me many options of different puzzles to choose from. After I chose to do a word search puzzle on the First Thanksgiving, I typed the information in that I wanted the puzzle to include, which was a list of vocabulary words that pertained to the First Thanksgiving. After I did this I clicked create puzzle and the puzzlemaker program created my puzzle for me! I think that this program is great because it is a very simple way for teachers to create a puzzle for their students either for review purposes or just for fun.

Project # 8: Photo Story

The purpose of this project was to create a digital photo story. I chose to do my photo story on my nephew Aidan from birth to present and he is now two years old! I used pictures of Aidan and imported them to photo shop 3 for windows. I then added text to each picture to explain it and add some excitement. I chose to have the song "Let Them Be Little" playing in the background because it was very relevant. I think that this is a great project for students, which would serve as a good way for them to introduce and express themselves to their teachers and fellow classmates. I believe that it is a good tool to help build a community within your classroom.

Project # 9: Reflections on Technology Course

The purpose of this project was to reflect on how we had grown and changed throughout this course. We reflected on what was good and what was bad through out the semester in this course. We also gave examples of what we accomplished through out the semester in terms of projects and how they helped us to grow and change as a future educator. Overall this reflection shows that I have grown tremendously throughout this semester as a result of this course, especially when it comes to my skill with using technology in the classroom!