Power Point

This has been my favorite assignment! I created a PowerPoint presentation through Microsoft Office, and then uploaded it to Slideshare.com. I chose the topic of my PowerPoint (literary devices) through the WV Content Standards for 9th grade English and Reading (RLA.O.9.1.7): explain the literary devices used to construct meaning and define the author's/reader's purpose. My presentation can be viewed at the following link: PowerPoint. Using PowerPoint in the classroom could be extremely useful when teaching difficult/confusing topics. PowerPoint can appeal to visual and auditory learners, and information can be presented in small, interesting chunks (which can help with processing new information). The ISTE NETS T Standards that related to this activity are: 1.a., 2.c., and 3.c. Teachers could have their students create their own PowerPoint presentations, which promotes creativity and inventiveness. Teachers can customize/personalize activities (PowerPoint) to address student's learning styles (such as visual and auditory learners). By using PowerPoint, teachers are able to communicate information through using digital tools (computers, PowerPoint).

Personality Profile #2

After completing the  Keirsey Temperament Sorter, I learned that my prognostication was correct. I am a guardian, and the website would not let me view any other styles that I may have scored high on without buying the full report. Knowledge of my personality type can definitely help me to better lead a class of students, a group of teachers, or a cadre of principals, as I can accentuate the positive aspects of being a guardian and possibly work on developing other characteristics that are helpful to possess in the field of education. Due to guardians be dependable and responsible, they probably make excellent leaders in the classroom. Their students and co-workers know that they can depend on the guardian to do their job and provide assistance with a problem or crisis. Guardians are also cautious and do not make decisions in a rash manner, which could also be helpful when dealing with students that have behavioral or emotional problems. The ISTE NETS T standards that relate to the Personality Profile activities are: 1.c. and 2.b. By having students complete this type of activity teachers are able to promote student reflection (their personality types in this case) using tools to reveal  and clarify students' conceptual understanding, planning (by determining the attributes that they can work on), and creative processing (by accentuating their positive attributes). By using these types of surveys, teachers can develop technology enriched learning environments that enable students to pursue their own curiosities (such as their personality type) and become active participants in setting their own educational goals and manage their learning by determining their strengths and weaknesses.

Personality Profile #1

I have taken personality tests for fun, and usually the results are accurate. In my profession, I view many psychological evaluations that conduct more scientific testing for developing the profile of one's personality, the results are usually spot-on (in my experience, but I guess it depends on the evaluator, as these are more subjective). For the four personality types, I think that my most prominent type will be guardian, as the overview fit me perfectly. I take pride in being dependable, responsible, and hardworking. I am the first one in my unit that arrives at the office everyday and I am usually the last to leave. I'm a very practical and levelheaded person. I predict that after the guardian, I am an idealist. Idealists are passionate about what they do and enjoy working with people. I am kindhearted, authentic, and feel that I have most of the traits discussed under this category as well. I cannot see many characteristics within myself that are described with the last two (rational and artisan), but I predict that I am more rational than artisan. I am skeptical and like to problem-solve (if the problem is interesting to me).

APA Paper

This assignment consisted of using my previous knowledge gained by completing spreadsheets on Microsoft Excel and using this information to create an APA style action research report that included charts and tables with appropriate citations. After creating this document, I saved it as a PDF, which was much easier than I expected. I then uploaded my document to Google Docs and then shared my research report with Dr. Pierce through Google Docs. This type of assignment could be used when conducting research in the classroom (such as comparing semester grades of students by category). The ISTE NETS T standards that relate to this activity are: 3. c., 3.d, and 5.c. Teachers are able to communicate relevant information such as grades and intervention strategies effectively to peers, students, and parents by using a variety of digital age formats. Teachers can also model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging tools (Excel programs, Word programs, etc. to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research (such as in a PDF document). Finally, educators can evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice (such as interventions to improve student cooperation) to make use of existing tools and resources in support of student learning.

Spreadsheet 3

This activity was a little easier than the previous ones, I guess that I am finally getting the hang of Excel. For this activity, I was provided with pretest and post test scores for a group of students that was broken down by gender and status (traditional vs. non traditional). I had to use the formula function on Excel to compile the average scores and gains for all of the different groups. Click on this link to view my finished spreadsheet. Then, I created charts that reflected the data that was compiled. My spreadsheet/charts can be seen here.  This activity could be used in the classroom to provide visual information that relates to information in spreadsheets. The ISTE NETS T standards that relate to this activity are: 3.C. and 1.B. Teachers can use the spreadsheets and charts to communicate relevant information and ideas to students, peers, and parents using a variety of digital age formats (spreadsheets, charts) and students could use spreadsheets/charts to engage in real-world issues/solve problems using digital tools/resources.

Spreadsheet 2

This is another assignment that involved the use of Microsoft Excel. I have some sort of mental block with Excel, therefore, this assignment was also difficult for me to complete. First, I was presented with test grades, project grades, and assignment grades on a spreadsheet. I had to use a formula to determine the weighted average of these activities. I then created a formula to give each semester grade a letter value. Then, I created an average score for the class, the minimum and maximum scores, as well as the range. After completing this, I used a formula on Excel to determine the numbers of each letter grade. Last, but not least (this was my favorite part), I added a background color and borders to my worksheet. My spreadsheet was uploaded to Google Docs and can be seen here. By completing this activity, I have learned that Excel offers many features that can help educator's track student progress. The ISTE NETS T standards that relate to this activity are: 3.a. and 3.d.. Due to using Excel and uploading the spreadsheet to Google Docs, teachers demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge (Excel) to new systems (Google Docs) and teachers are able to model and facilitate the effective use of current and emerging digital tools to analyze learning (teachers are able to determine the progress that their students are making, and possibly make changes to their curriculum).

Spreadsheet 1

This has been the most difficult assignment for me this semester. I have always struggled with using Microsoft Excel. Today, I utilized a spreadsheet to determine the average grades of students and then place the averages in descending order. I had difficulty with coming up with an average between the three terms and it took a while for me to realize that I needed to include the "cell" for each term in my formula. Then, in the process of uploading my document to Google documents, I somehow lost it. I had to start all over again!  You can view my spreadsheet here: Spreadsheet 1. Using spreadsheets can be very useful in the classroom to maintain students records or to double check other methods of grade/record keeping. I feel like that Microsoft Excel is a useful tool, although I need to spend more time becoming familiar with it. I did learn a lot about Excel and patience while completing this assignment, and would use it in my future classroom. The ISTE NETS T standards that relate to today's activity are: 3.a and 3.d., as teachers can utilize Excel to demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current technology to new technology (uploading a Microsoft Excel document to Google Documents), and teachers are able to facilitate effective use of current digital tolls to analyze/evaluate information resources to promote research/learning (by using this tool, teachers can easily compute grades and other information to determine how well the class is doing in a quick manner).