#1. Discuss two tools that were your personal favorites from the semester and why.
QR Codes
My favorite tool/app that I learned how to use this semester was the QR codes. Before this class, I had seen QR codes almost everywhere, but I had no idea that I was able to create my own! There are iPads or some sort of technology in classroom nowaday, so using QR codes within my future lessons will be no problem. Having students simply scan the code will take a lot less time as opposed to having them type in an entire hyperlink to get to a website. Creating a lesson using mainly QR codes was fun and incredibly easy to use (click to check out my lesson)! QR codes will be very easy for elementary students to figure out and maneuver. There are a lot of great websites that allow you to make your own QR codes that take only seconds to do. A few ways that I will be using QR Codes in my future classroom is when I have my students go to a website that portrays to our lesson, or when having students answer questions on a GoogleForm.
Adobe Spark Page
Another of my favorite tools/apps from this semester is Adobe Spark Page. I had never heard of this app/website before taking DED318, so I am grateful I can use it in my future classroom now. Adobe Spark Page is easy to use and FREE! You can make Adobe Spark Page's through their app or on a computer using their website. One of the main reasons that I love Adobe Spark is because there are numerous amount ways to "spark" up your lesson plans. There are multiple different fonts, pictures, transitions, etc. that you are able to use when creating a lesson or presentation for your classroom. Adobe Spark is great, because it's not just your average way of teaching a lesson to the students. I am definitely going to be utilizing this app/website very frequently in my future classroom; especially when the lesson needs to be brightened up a bit!
#2. Reflect on what you have accomplished and learned this semester.
Throughout this semester, I have learned such an incredibly amount. Before taking DED318, I thought I would learn a couple of new apps and that would be it. I can honestly admit that my assumption was very wrong. I have learned more than I could have possibly imagined. I cannot wait to use all of the new apps, tools and resources learned throughout this course in my future classroom. There were many projects that I had to sit down and thoroughly think about an idea for them such as My Adobe Spark Video, but once I had an idea, I ran with it. My biggest WOW moment from this semester was over Thanksgiving Break. I was discussing some of the projects and lesson plans I had done with my father (whom is also an elementary teacher), when it hit me that, "wow, I actually love all the projects and lessons that I have done and cannot wait to use them in my future classroom". All of the projects that I have done in DED318 I will be able to teach to my own students in a few years, which is exciting. I will always have my projects and lesson ideas on my Weebly account, so they can be easily accessed for me and anybody else who may like them. It never occured to me that there were so many resources involving technology that I could use in my future classroom, until this semester. Technology is such a big part of today's classroom, so I am glad that I'm better educated on ways to integrate technology. This semester has been one of my favorites since being at Kansas State University and has only got me more excited to become a teacher each day!