Final Reflection

As we conclude this class, I am excited to have a few more

technology tools to throw into my toolbox!

 

 

 

 

I think the most challenging thing for me with this course was the time it took to take large concepts into concise presentations using the best technology resource for the activity.  I am a very organized person, but I see the pressures of working multi-dimensionally and the need for scoring guides and rubrics to shape the process as well as help with spending time wisely.  It can be very easy to get caught up in getting the just the right graphic, audio, video, etc., when the focus needs to be on the whole project, what is expected, and what resources are available.

 

As a planner, I would have felt better having the assignment descriptions prior to the week that we worked on them.  Sometimes I need extra time to research and read about new resources to feel comfortable with them.  While I think that in each of my courses so far it would have been great to explore these new tools over more time, I understand the concept of the online courses.  The best part of these classes is the process of learning alongside peers.  I look forward to sharing even more and learning new concepts with my students.

Infographic... Spending Time

 

After looking through several generators, I chose to try Piktochart to create my infographic.  I did have to create an account, but it only required a username and password.  It was very easy to use and had enough themes and options to make it as personalized as you wanted within the theme.

This week I polled my classes (6th, 7th, & 8th graders) to see how they spent their time.  They had options between art, excercise, reading, faith development, watching television, playing video games, doing chores, exercising or playing sports, spending time with family, homework & school activities, and spending time with friends.  Although, I am not surprised by the numbers leading the way in television, video games and exercise/sports, I found it interesting that television watching was the only category in which every participant had 1 or more hours.  I guess "everyone is doing it."

This was a fun project!  I love being able to weave creativity and analysis together!

 

 

I can definitely see how creating an infographic could be used as a summative or assessment tool.  In order to complete the graphic above, I had to decide a topic, survey, graph, interpret, calculate, organize, research, cite resources, and be creative, which shows so much more than a typical test.  This sure does beat having to do a poster, because I can store, review, share, edit and reuse without the worries of storing and ruining a poster board.

Automated Infographic

So, I was so intrigued by the infographic project that I jumped on the search engine and surfed around for inspiration.  I found links to several generators.  This one in particular has 5 infographic generators:  http://www.pricenfees.com/top-5-infographic-generation-websites.html.  I also discovered Intel's What About Me? A Picture of My Digital Life, which allows  you to "explore your passions and learn what makes you tick.  Create an infographic of your digital life and become inspired by the people you know, the things you see, and the experiences you have online.
You never know what you might discover."  Like I really need to capture how I waste my time in social media... but I did!

 

 

I plan on generating my own information by taking a poll at school.  I look forward to the creative process of actually making my own infographic!