Natalee+Mickelson


 * This is the page I created using html coding at Towsonmedia type="custom" key="8396328" width="130" height="130" align="left"**


 * This is an online, multi-media poster created with Glogster on the topic of Cooperative Learning**:

media type="custom" key="8902828"


 * Virtual Fieldtrips:**

I think that virtual field trips are a great idea. Real life field trips are wonderful, but there are many limitations that you wouldn't run into with virtual trips. There are no restrictions due to cost, class size, or travel time. Just looking through the websites provided on the list I see several that could be incorperated into curriculums in my school. I had fun looking through them, I imagine that students would also appreciate the interactive and technology aspects that this would add to a lesson.

As a teacher, I think that this would be a fun out of school project or homework assignment. You could provide the links in class or put them on Edline, and students could do this as a supplemental assignment outside of school. I think that in class, students would rush through and "find the answers." At home, you have the time to read, look around at all the different parts, and truly appreciate the website!


 * This is a movie that I made using Windows Movie Maker. **

media type="file" key="MovieMakerFinal.wmv" width="300" height="300"

Every year I do a tessellation project with my students. With the help of some current students creating new pieces, and some tessellations from previous years, I put together a how-to video that I can use in the future with me classes!


 * Final Reflection**

**1.** **We have used many technologies in this course over the past months; which one(s) made the most impression on you? How might you integrate this technology into your teaching?** I most enjoyed working with MovieMaker. I feel that it ties everything together (audio, video, and images). I think that it is appealing to all students because they can record themselves and be the star of the show or edit audio and image into a nice slideshow/video. MovieMaker could be incorporated into my math curriculum by students making how-to videos, like I did in explaining tessellations.

**2.** **You were asked to articulate your personal philosophy on educational technology to include in your html page. Has your philosophy changed as a result of what you have learned in this class? If so, how?** My philosophy has not changed over the course of this class; if anything it reaffirms my feelings on the importance of technology incorporation. In the end-of-school professional development, I was pleased to see that my school is taking some steps to better educate the staff on technology. Smart board/activate training, wikis/blogs, and edline are all being offered. It is a small step, but it is a step in the right direction for showing teachers what is available to them!

**3.** **I have always maintained the position that students who learn to use technology effectively in their teaching should be ready to share what they’ve learned with their colleagues in schools or their place of employment - doing so makes one a teacher-leader, a position that is very important to the success of school improvement and student achievement. How do you think you could share what you’ve learned in this class with others with whom you work? What would you say to them in terms of what you believe about the importance of technology tools in teaching and learning?** I have been so excited about some of the websites you have shown us here, and I have been pleased to share the sites with other teachers or to find that teachers are already using them with students. I think that the biggest hurdles teachers have in using technology is the fear of starting and then finding the time to put things together. Some sort of “master list” of technology resources, for either the individual school or the county, would be helpful in showing teachers what is available to them for classroom use. This would give teachers several options and be a great way to introduce new ideas!

**4.** **What could be added to this course to make it better for graduate students?** I loved this class. We were exposed to so many projects and websites, the only way to make it better would be to add more!