In this semester, I have gained amount of information in several areas of educational technology. In the modern ages, people have to keep up with the progress of technology. As a member of E-generation, I am of great interest in diverse technology. This area is also of great potential and developable.
In addition, I would like to share my opinions on the final presentations of all the classmates. I really appreciate the presentations we did for the course. I have learned various kinds of ways of arranging powerpoints from everyone. The fonts, sizes of letters, ways of expressions, and embedded videos and sounds are all creative and amazing. I also realize my lack of creativity in designing patterns. I know that this requires extra time to get improved.
Everyone has done a perfect presentation to me. Since most of them are in-service teachers and they are of great experience, I have learned a lot from them. They have enlightened me about which directions my future teaching will be led. I am so glad that I have the opportunity to join this course in this semester. I have acquired knowledge and information needed, and all what I have got will definitely help my future career.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Online teaching tools
With the trends of developing modern technology, more and more online teaching and learning tools are appearing. I am surprised that the classrooms can be influenced and assisted by these educational teaching tools to a large extent, for instance, Socrative, Edmodo, and Twiducate can help the teachers build virtual classrooms without the restraint of time and space.
iPhone and iPad applications are used more and more frequently in class. Based on my experience of learning a language, iPad helps a lot. I have downloaded various dictionaries and ESL/ FLL applications. In this applications, multi-media elements are always embedded in. These will improve the users attention and performance in using.
All these online teaching tools will assist teaching. However, as teachers, we have to realize that they are only tools. We'd better not totally depend on them. Without electronic tools in ancient times, the teachers can achieve excellent students. What really matters should be the teaching content, but not the tools. The more you rely on external tools, the more unreliable your internal tools will be in the future.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word now is probably the most popular office software in common use. It is used as the basic to do word process. But till now, the potential of it has not been fully developed.
I designed a flyer in the class. It seems that it is the first time I have done that. Moreover, I found that a lot of work can be done by Microsoft Word. For example, questionnaires and posters can also be designed by it. Since it is the easiest software to some extent, both the students and the teachers can keep seeking the potential.
In my opinion, Google doc is a similar word processing service that is based on cloud drive. Google doc and Microsoft Word do share some characteristics. For instance, they can both do word processing work, and modify the fonts and sizes. Although Google doc don't allow the users to create colorful brochures or flyers, its most advantageous feature is that the texts can be stored in the cloud. The users can get access to the texts as long as they log in their Google accounts. This is more convenient than Microsoft Word, because Word cannot be easily shared and modified online.
In general, Word is worth trying for the students and the teachers. Although it is used for relatively low-level users, it can still be useful in most areas.
I designed a flyer in the class. It seems that it is the first time I have done that. Moreover, I found that a lot of work can be done by Microsoft Word. For example, questionnaires and posters can also be designed by it. Since it is the easiest software to some extent, both the students and the teachers can keep seeking the potential.
In my opinion, Google doc is a similar word processing service that is based on cloud drive. Google doc and Microsoft Word do share some characteristics. For instance, they can both do word processing work, and modify the fonts and sizes. Although Google doc don't allow the users to create colorful brochures or flyers, its most advantageous feature is that the texts can be stored in the cloud. The users can get access to the texts as long as they log in their Google accounts. This is more convenient than Microsoft Word, because Word cannot be easily shared and modified online.
In general, Word is worth trying for the students and the teachers. Although it is used for relatively low-level users, it can still be useful in most areas.
Podcasts
The podcast is actually another form of broadcast that created by some people at home. The author can choose whether to publish it on the Internet or keep it as private. In this class, I have chance to create a podcast myself. From the process, I learn that in order to make it interesting and attracting, useful content, author's way of expressing and editing, and appropriate audio elements all matter.
Now the podcast is a convenient and time-efficient way to learn what you want to focus on. The users can select the stations they are interested in, and subscribe them, then new episodes will be downloaded to the devices once they are updated. What's more, the podcast is portable, which means that you can get your subscription wherever you log in with your usernames and passwords. Moreover, compared to the youtube or vblogs, the podcast frees the users from sitting by the computer. The users can listen to the podcast during the slices of time, such as when taking buses or subway.
In fact, I'm a fan of podcast. I have subscribed tons of stations focusing on TESOL, Foreign Language Learning, Various University's Open Courses, and Photography. It shows that the podcast is really a good way to learn after class. However, information explosion can be a problem based on my experience. Because you are free to subscribe tons of stations, you almost cannot complete every episode. This may make the users feel anxious sometimes, such as me. As users, you need to make sure that the stations are in real need. As teachers, we need to select appropriate stations for the students, in order not to overburden them.
Now the podcast is a convenient and time-efficient way to learn what you want to focus on. The users can select the stations they are interested in, and subscribe them, then new episodes will be downloaded to the devices once they are updated. What's more, the podcast is portable, which means that you can get your subscription wherever you log in with your usernames and passwords. Moreover, compared to the youtube or vblogs, the podcast frees the users from sitting by the computer. The users can listen to the podcast during the slices of time, such as when taking buses or subway.
In fact, I'm a fan of podcast. I have subscribed tons of stations focusing on TESOL, Foreign Language Learning, Various University's Open Courses, and Photography. It shows that the podcast is really a good way to learn after class. However, information explosion can be a problem based on my experience. Because you are free to subscribe tons of stations, you almost cannot complete every episode. This may make the users feel anxious sometimes, such as me. As users, you need to make sure that the stations are in real need. As teachers, we need to select appropriate stations for the students, in order not to overburden them.
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