Saturday, August 17, 2013

Week 5 Reflection Assignment


Self –Assessment

While in this course, I have gained much knowledge in regards to desktop publishing and graphic design.  In week one, we learned about the CRAP method, and how using these four methods of design will enhance your product (business card, brochure, poster, or flyer).  Understanding that these four tools can greatly impact not only your design, but your audience as well (Ojeda, 2012).  In the past, I hadn’t ever thought about what methods actually make a website or product easy to read.  After, our first assignment on design I had a much better grasp on what works and what doesn’t.  With this new knowledge, I was then able to create my CRAP brochure using all four elements.  I look forward in using this brochure as a teaching tool to others at my campus this fall.  Creating a logo was one of my favorite assignments in this course.  I didn’t have any experience with creating logos.  Through brainstorming self-characteristics, as well as, “stereotyping” myself, I was able to create a logo that I have already put in use on my own resources website for my school campus.  Creating an animation and the website were also wonderful learning experiences.  I enjoyed the fact that I was able to use the assignments from weeks 1-3 in helping create the final website with my team.
Learn as a Learner
As a learner in this class, I attempted to soak in as much knowledge and information that I could in order to feel successful.  The assigned assignments and readings were always of great help with grasping the course content, and discussion board writings.  I would also participate in as many web conferences that I could in order to make sure that I was up to date on the information, and to collaborate with my professor and classmates.  To complete the assignments, I would use the rubrics to guide where I needed to start.  The rubrics were extremely helpful in competing assignments correctly.  Interacting with colleagues in the discussion board, web conferences, blogs, and Facebook group were vital in my learning process.  Having those connections are important to this learning process.  We exchange ideas, and ask questions to gain more information.  This course would be very difficult without peer collaboration. 
Lifelong Learning Skills
My past interactions and collaborations with my colleagues impact my future learning in a large way.  Collaboration is one of the most important lifelong learning skills.  Being connected with colleagues, friends, and family is a great way to share ideas and information for the goal of growth.  I know that without my teammates from this course, I would not have had as much growth in website creation.  Everyone has their own point of expertise, and finding a group where everyone is somewhat different, yet has the same expectations can be hard to find. I know that through the positive collaboration I’ve had in the past two courses, will set me up for continued teamwork in the next course.   As a lifelong learner, it’s important to remember that continuing to challenge yourself, reflecting, and pushing your colleagues is central to growth in individual and team experiences. 
Using Websites in a K-12 Classroom
In the K-12 setting, websites are an engaging and interactive way for all students to become motivated in the learning process.  Students as young as three can start using tablet devices to engage in learning opportunities.  Blogging in the elementary school learning environment could be started as early as first or second grade with the appropriate training and guidelines in place.  Using interactive websites are a great tool for homework and extra at home learning.  Students in the upper elementary school, middle, and high school would love the opportunity to create animations, tutorials, and presentations.  This type of interactive learning should be at their fingertips at all times.   



Ojeda, Chiara.  (2012, August). How to Create Pro Slides in Less Time: Don’t Worry, Be Crappy.  Retrieved from:  http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/contrast-repetition-alignment-proximity/



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