Blog #3

In my experience, I feel most prepared to teach students ELA technology standards such as, "Use Digital Media", "Integrate and Evaluate", "Evaluate Speaker's Point of View", and "Multimedia:" Informational Text. I demonstrate confidence in these fields through past experience in digital media and evaluating texts. Conversely, I feel as though I will require further instruction in other ELA technology fields such as history, social studies, science, and technology multimedia, as well as information on "Text Structure", and the "Use of Multiple Sources". Although I am confident in my ability to perform well on assignments that incorporate these standards, I do not feel fit to teach them to a classroom of students. My knowledge on subject areas that incorporate history, social studies, and science, are sparse and my ability to evaluate text structures and sources are mediocre at best.

Considering I plan to teach upperclassmen in high school and community college students, I plan to offer a very technologically forward classroom experience. I would like to incorporate social media such as instagram and twitter as a mode of communication between my students and I. This way they can ask questions and receive answers for the entire class to see outside of school hours. I would also like to incorporate private blogs for my students to write daily journal entries about their experience in the classroom. This will help me gage if I'm correctly supplying material for my students. Lastly I would like to explore various modes of creative media when teaching. By this, I mean requiring students to submit material using various graphics, designs, and drawings display information. Incorporating creative media will help to alleviate boredom in the classroom. Additionally, in response to a digitally advanced classroom I will address digital citizenship concepts and guidelines to ensure a positive learning community within the classroom. At the beginning of the semester I will provide a lecture on the importance of ethical behavior, civility, and good communications skills virtually as well as in the real world. Provided the students I will be teaching should be adults, I feel as though a lecture is only necessary in displaying these concepts.

While composing my Newsletter Design assignment, I found multiple elements that I did, and did not like. I really enjoyed making my letter aesthetically pleasing with various graphics. However, I did not like having to strategically fill in just enough information to fill the page. Next time, I will prepare a drafted version before attempting to create the newsletter. This would save me a great amount of time. I find that newsletters are extremely important in communication between not only the student and teacher, but the parents as well. It keeps everyone up to date on what is happening in the classroom and in the near future. What I've learned from this assignment can be applied to various flyers, newsletters, and infographics in my future career.