Technology Book Camp Final Skills, Reflection, and Checklist

I have to admit, I feel fairly proud of myself for my Boot Camp Skills accomplishments.  Although I chose to learn about ordinary Microsoft programs, I was able to gain a better understanding of spreadsheets and databases.   I chose these because these were the two programs that I haven’t had much experience using.  I was able to create a couple of very useful documents that I have been able to put to use immediately in my classroom.  The first was my classroom newsletter.

Every week I send home a classroom newsletter and post it on my classroom website.  My newsletter  was long overdue for makeover.  Previously, it had just been a list of paragraphs.  I was able to learn more about columns and formatting to give it the updated look of a real newsletter.  I like this format so much better because I think it is easier for parents to read and highlights topics from the week much better. 

My second project combined a few small projects.  First, I learned how to use mail merge in order to write more personal letters to parents explaining the interventions that their child is receiving.  Second, I was able to record each student’s intervention data into a chart and then convert that chart to a graph so that parents can visually see the progress that their child is making.  I plan to use this report at progress report and grade card time each nine weeks.  It was quite a challenge to figure out how to display my data in chart form, but I love the way it turned out.  I feel it looks very professional and is easy for parents to understand. 

Since I had accomplished my original goals one module early, I decided to look into a website that one of my classmates has shared called powtoon.com.  I learned how to create my own powtoon that I plan to use for poetry vocabulary review in my classroom next week.  I plan to create a few more powtoons to use as presentations in my classroom and then hopefully will feel confident enough to teach my students to use it. 

I feel I was able to meet all of my objectives.  When formatting my newsletter, I tried to make the formatting changes using the method listed in my objectives.  I discovered there was more than one way to do some of the formatting, so that was very helpful.  When working in the database and excel documents, I was able to create the cells to function as I intended, so I gained experience using functions, formulas, and references.  I wouldn't call myself an expert at this yet, but I was able to create the chart using a few tutorials.  Finally, I added the powtoons skills to my checklist.  I was able to create, edit, and format text, pictures, and sound within a slideshow.

Overall, the Technology Skills Bootcamp is a great idea.  It allowed me to focus on the specific skills that I need and not waste my time on those skills that I already have.  I was able to create a plan for myself that was relevant to what I am doing in the classroom right now.   I think it is a wonderful professional development model.  Too often, differentiation in professional development is ignored.  This would be a great way of allowing teachers to get the training they need without wasting their time.  I like the idea of flipping technology professional development.  By setting my goals and using resources to educate myself, I was able to move much faster than if I were attending a face to face class where the instructor would need to help each teacher with their individual projects.  If we were to use this in my district, it would be a great way to help teachers begin learning wherever they are on the continuum.  Throughout each time period, they could attempt to create or try a specific technology that would be relevant in their classroom.  Then, teachers could come back together with the instructor to ask questions and clarify things before starting over with a new skill.  If I have the opportunity to participate in professional development planning in regards to technology, I certainly plan to suggest this format for my district!
goals and work plan
Final Skills Checklist
Parent Newsletter with formatting
Completed Parent Intervention Letter with Mail Merge and Data
 Powtoons Presentation

Skills Update E

Since I accomplished my original goals one module early, I decided to look into a website that one of my classmates has shared called powtoon.com.  In one way, it is similar to powerpoint because you create presentations using slides.  But, it is a lot more fun because when you finish, your slides are made into a video for presenting.  Powtoons can be used for free.  You can also upgrade to have the privilege of using more graphics.  I chose to begin with the free version to see how easy it was to use.  I learned pretty quickly and was able to make my own 5 slide video.  It was very satisfying to see the final product in video form.  I think my students would be able to use the basic functions with instruction.  My goal is to create a few more presentations for my class so that I am comfortable, then be able to teach my students.  I think they will really enjoy it!  This presentation lists our poetry vocabulary words.  I plan to share it with my class next week when we are reviewing our words before the test. 


Poetry Vocabulary 

Skills Checklist Update D

In this module, my goal was to complete my intervention data charts and merge them into parent information letters for each student.  I was able to successfully merge parent and student information into each letter.  I ran into some trouble trying to merge each student's chart into their individual parent letters.  From the research that I did, it seemed pretty complicated for someone like me who doesn't completely understand all of the formulas used in Excel.  So, since I didn't have many letters to complete, I opted to link the charts manually after I had merged the other fields (parent name, student name, etc.).  I watched a couple of video tutorials to learn the difference between just pasting vs. embedding and linking the chart.  I chose to link the chart so that it is automatically updated when the excel chart is updated.  I think this will work out great and save a lot of time when it's time for progress reporting.  All I have to do is enter the data and then update the letters.  I'm very excited that I was able to figure all of this out!



Merged Parent Intervention Letters

Skills Checklist Update D

Skills Checklist Update C

During this module, I was able to create an Excel file to record data and turn that data into a chart.  Yea!  When I first started, I was fearful that I wouldn't actually be able to figure it out.  I tried out the Atomic Learning website and found some tutorial videos on Excel.  What a great resource.  I had no idea that I had access to all of that.  I will definitely be using that again.  These were very helpful.  I also ended up searching the help within Excel and watched a couple of their videos.  I must admit, though, I finally figured it out with some trial and error.  The videos helped me figure out how Excel is organized and then I was able to search and experiment with some of the appropriate tools.  I do not think I could have done this on my own.  Luckily Excel seems to have a formula for everything.  I was able to look at the formulas for the different types of charts and graphs and edit them to include the cells that I wanted to utilize and tweak the graph to represent the columns that I wanted.  I certainly couldn't have written the formula on my own.  Overall, I feel good that I could use the program and create something simple and useful for my classroom.  I'm going to use this data/chart to log progress monitoring for a reading intervention called Read Naturally.  I will use this as a way to report progress to parents.   

Here is my data: 
Progress Monitoring Chart
Skills Checklist Update C

Technology Skills Update B

For Module 3, my learning objectives were to apply spacing and alignment with ruler options, as well as with the formatting palette and toolbar options.  I also was able to experiment with setting tabs in a variety of ways and using outline options.  I continue to be amazed at the many ways that there are to do things in Word.  I still find myself forgetting that the dialog boxes expand into so many more choices!  Last week I experimented with more ways to format my newsletter, so I am including a copy of that.  This week, I began composing my parent letter that I hope to merge progress monitoring data into.  I have included that as well, but it is currently a work in progress.  I can tell I will need to spend more time on that during this module because I am very unfamiliar with data files. 

Updated Skills Checklist
Newsletter Feb. 14
Parent Letter

Skills Assessment A

For my first module, I am working on learning more options for Word.  Each week I send out a parent newsletter summarizing skills we have covered.  My plan was to reformat my newsletter (currently it is just a page of paragraphs with a heading preceding it) into columns and sections.  My homeroom students see two main academic teachers, myself and the teacher who teaches in the room behind me.  We each have sections in our homeroom newsletter for the other to write and summarize work that has been done in our particular classes.

This newsletter as you will notice is not complete due to the fact that we didn't have school on Friday and I was not at school to access all of the information I wanted to include.  The format, however, is in place.

I was excited to discover some new, simple things that I could do easily in Word.  The neatest thing I've discovered is using the current date and time in the header.  I wish I had know about this before.  It's the perfect thing for a weekly newsletter.  The best part of it is the update feature.  The date will automatically update for me!  I love it.

I used the help feature to learn about automatic page numbering, turning on and off automatic formatting and using tabs.

Here is my newsletter: New Newsletter


Here is my updated Skills Checklist