Independent Technology Project Reflection

Ashley Jordan

While creating this project, I have learned quite a bit about various aspects that teacher

have to go through. I have personally learned that a ton of time and effort goes into creating a

technology based lesson for my students. I have also gained the knowledge that as a teacher I

will have to know how to use the technology that I expect my students to use to create their own

documents and do an activity. I took away the idea that it is better to spread out a very time

consuming lesson and do it in bits and pieces instead of all in one day. I found out that if I did

not cite my sources exactly after I used a new one I often forgot what the source was; it is best to

cite a source right after finding it. I have learned several ideas and concepts that I can take away

and use in the future when trying to create a technology based lesson for my students.

There were a couple resources that I found to be very useful while working through this

project. First and foremost, I found the previous Inspiration and Kidspiration activities to be the

most useful tools because I remembered how to create a document by looking at my examples I

had. I also found that just playing around with the picture view and the Alike and Different

activity helped me make my own version more appealing. Another resource, which I found to be

a great guide was the tutorial I included for my students to view. These resources all aided me in

completing my project in the way that I wanted to.

I could will and could share this project in a couple of different ways. It is required at

once I already share my project with my fellow classmates via Blackboard so I do just that. I

could also share my project by posting it on my Weebly account for others to see when they view

my electronic portfolio. If needed or suggested I should always email another teacher my copy of

this project if they are doing a unit on solids and liquids. I would solely use this specific project

for my lesson on solids and liquids but Kidspiration can really be used to create items for any

subject matter. There a couple possible applications that I can suggest by completing this project.

Other real world uses of the Kidspiration picture view model I used can be applied to any subject

matter; meaning that students can create a picture view model of say a story timeline. Students

could also use the Kidspiration Alike and Different model when they are comparing/contrasting

two stories or concepts.

This project could be further improved in just a couple of ways. I could improve this

project by possibly creating my own step-by-step directions on how to create the picture view

documents that I want my students to create in this project. I could also improve my project by

maybe writing out all of the information that I plan on covering before the students create their

documents and do their activity. This project is both a student and teacher collaboration, because

for the first two parts of the project the students are expected to complete their own picture view

documents, and for the third item students are expected to use the activity that I created. I will

personally not give my students an assessment grade over these items because for most of my

students it will be their first time using Kidspiration. Instead, I will give my students a

completion grade for completing or not completing the project. I will personally look over all

three of the items for each students and give them a separate paper with my comments,

suggestions, or concerns I have. Once, my insight is handed back to my students I will allow

those that need to make corrections to go back and do so.

This project has led me to think about how useful a few other technologies maybe for my

particular unit. For instance, I thought about possibly creating my own game to compare contrast

solids and liquids. I also thought about possibly creating my own website will all of the useful

tools I used for this project. I even thought about creating an interactive or stimulation activity

for my students to complete over solids and liquids. Due to the project, I have every reason to

explore and possibly master several other technologies.

Works Cited

Fundamental environmental molecular science of liquids and nanoparticles. 18 10 2010. Web.

15 04 2014. <http://www.physics.uu.se/molcond/content/fundamental-environmental-

molecular-science-liquids-and-nanoparticles-1>.

Shukla, Brajesh. What are the characteristic properties of solids, liquids and gases? 2012. Web.

15 04 2014. <http://www.preservearticles.com/201012251660/properties-of-solids-

liquids-gases.html>.

Solid Basics. 2014. Web. 12 04 2014. <http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_solid.html>.

Warsh, Joelle. Kidspiration Picture View. 2014. Web. 10 04 2014.

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uctGaeJT5Uo>.

What are Physical Properties and Changes? 2003. Web. 13 04 2014.

<http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/104Aphysprop.html>.