Reflection on Summer 2021 LSSL 5391

 

Reflection

    While completing my last assignment for the Summer 2021 LSSL 5391 class I take a look back and share my thoughts on the applications we were encouraged to try and share. Reflection is a great tool in order to evaluate an experience and find benefits or challenges.

Blog/Twitter Account

    In the start here module students were asked to create a blog and Twitter account. Students were asked to share the links on a Google Spreadsheet where we could go back to share and comment on our classmates work. While reflecting, I realized I should have set aside a time each week after assignments were turned in (added to our blogs) and comment and interact with classmates. It is helpful to see how classmates set up their blogs and how they present information. Some classmates clearly have more experience technology and applications, and they would be a great resource to use if the class had a discussion board available to discuss or ask each other questions about the assignments. 

Blogs and Blog Readers

    There are many people are really into reading blogs and using blog readers to keep track of the different blogs they may follow. I myself am not really into blogs and creating a blog reader was the end of the assignment for me as I have not gone back to the blog reader. 

Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Infographics

    I found the infographics assignment very useful. I like the idea of creating an infographic as a teacher, librarian, or even at a student level. There were great applications available to use and creating the infographics was easy and self explanatory. 

Screencast

    Traditionally most teachers, educators, and librarians are not super comfortable with filming themselves or their lessons. After the 2020 pandemic and teaching virtually, in person, or in a hybrid situation teachers came out of the pandemic masters of technology and teaching. Many made lessons for their classes and even shared with other educators. Screencasts are a great tool which I'm sure many more teachers have added to their toolbelt. I made a Screencast-o-matic about a safari and safari animals for the summer school class I was teaching and the students loved it.

YouTube, Animoto, QR Codes

    I created my own YouTube channel during the 2020 pandemic and found it easy to record live lessons or taping my own lessons to show on Zoom and then upload to YouTube. Again great tool, especially when students were given technology and wireless connections. Animoto was a really fun tool to create a book review and is something great for students to use to showcase their understanding of a text. QR Codes are a game changer, what an easy way to share information with students, parents, and teachers. This is definitely something I can add in to share weekly information or other important information I can share. 

Comics

    Another great application for teachers and students to display learning in a new and interesting way. I actually had a hard time creating comics, but I could see someone who has a plethora of ideas and imagination really find a great use for comics. I think students would really enjoy this form of showcasing their learning. 

Podcasts

    Podcasts are super popular right now, I myself actually have a few podcasts on my list of favorites. This is a form of sharing in which the visual portions are not as important, but the words and thoughts are vital to sharing a successful podcast.