Analysis and Reflection Essay
Technology advances have changed education in this digital era. The website assignment made me utilize and implement various digital tools to design my class website. The main goals for my website are to advance student learning and to build a positive relationship with parents and the community while having information available to everyone through an accessible digital platform.
Website Design
Throughout the semester, I have learned valuable information to help me design my website. This information helped me organize my ideas, content, design, and links that I wanted to include in my site as well as things that are not part of a good design for a website. I wanted to have a design free of bias, I wanted to use powerful images, as learned in EDTC 620, and I followed the Lynch and Horton Web Style Guide that provided me with valuable information and standards for the design, components, and analysis of a website.
According to Lynch and Horton “consistency is the golden rule of interface design and wayfinding” (2011). My website has the same tittle and subtitle in every page, the description of the page weather if it is for students, teachers or parents; I am consistent with the design and it is predictable that the same location of the information will be in the next page, I included 32 pages of valuable information. The site has tabs to make navigation and orientation easier for the user applying Lynch and Horton’s guidelines for landmarks “consistent landmarks site navigation and graphics to keep user oriented” (2011). My site has clear navigation aids, the graphics, text, organization of information, page, tittle, and headings are all consistent and predictable. My site has integrity and stability because it is well designed and reliable, it looks professional, I have a contact page as suggested in the feedback and dialog element, and my information is accurate and updated. My site is easy to navigate, visually inviting, user-friendly, and well- expressed.
My classroom Website has well-designed, purposeful graphics and well-edited images, I cited all the images, videos, and sources beneath the image as suggested in the directions for the assignment. I included 5 pictures taken by me, I included at least one picture in every page, I included a collage about me. My site is user friendly and has well-organized navigation.
Contrasting my site with Lynch and Horton’s guidelines, I am missing few elements. The Browse vs search element is missing because I would have to upgrade to a fee plan if I use this widget, instead I have buttons and I am consistent with the design to help the user find information faster. Another element missing is the bandwidth and interaction to understand user’s location. I can see how many views have my website because Weebly has Google Analytics.
Website for Multiple Audiences
The content of my website will advance student learning, it will include parents into their child’s education, and it will help fellow colleagues to stay up to date with the latest technology changes in education. I incorporated useful information for students in my class and made it easy to access; this will provide them the opportunity to view the website from a computer at home or using their phone. Students can see the calendar which has homework due dates, very beneficial for the ones that are absent from class by any reason. Students who are interested in more practice will see the scope and sequence of the topics in each level; this will give them the opportunity to know what topic is coming up in case they want to read ahead. The website also includes links, tools and tutorials that we will use during class.
My other goal for my website is to strengthen communication between the school and families. Partnerships with schools, parents, and community will help student’s achievement of learning goals by getting the community involved with the school. I included important information for parents such as class events and newsletters. I provided links for the school, district, parent portal, and the national and state Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). The idea is to motivate parents to be active participants with the school and the community in order to maximize students’ opportunities to succeed.
I Included information for Educators. I included information about technology in education, as well as the TPACK, the SAMR model, and the 21st century skills. I also included learning strategies, links, and tools. My website also has Digital Citizenship information for students and parents, a blog, information about world language standards, copy rights information page,creative commons license, all the pictures, documents, and videos are cited, a newly developed web-based instructions unit, US access board page, and my UMUC projects showcasing a portfolio for my projects.
Newly Developed (Original) Web-based Instructional Unit
My Problem Based Learning Unit is on Children Immigration. It is a real world problem affecting our country at this time. I created a WebQuest where students need to gather information about the topic and have them solve a real life problem. I used provoking images to prompt students to use critical skills, as well as links and videos. The webquest has 7 pages in total, introduction, tasks 1-7, rubric, teacher page with standards for the lesson, and credits page. The WebQuest is easy to navigate; the images and links help the students to build their understanding of this crisis with a constructivism approach.
Conclusion
Reflecting on this assignment, I have gained valuable information about technology use in the classroom and in teaching methods. Before I started in UMUC, my knowledge for technology was limited and I was afraid of trying new things; but, the content of the classes has helped me look outside the box and explore different tools and methods of teaching. This is just the beginning of my journey and I know it is a long process. I also know that technology is always evolving, but the more I learn, the more I feel comfortable trying new educational tools. I have been using my website in my classes and I will continue to use it because it has informative and valuable information. The website helps me to integrate technology into my class and will provide easy access to my class information.
References
Consol, M (2009). 10 keys to an effective website. Retrieved fromhttp://ezinearticles.com/?10-Keys-to-an-Effective-Website&id=3046947
Lynch, P. & Horton, S. (2011). Web style guide. Retrieved from http://www.webstyleguide.com/
Roblyer, M.D. & Doering, A. H. (2013). Integrating educational technology into teaching. Sixth Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Vandelay Design (2007). 10 keys to effective writing on the web. Retrieved from http://vandelaydesign.com/effective-writing-for-the-web/
Technology advances have changed education in this digital era. The website assignment made me utilize and implement various digital tools to design my class website. The main goals for my website are to advance student learning and to build a positive relationship with parents and the community while having information available to everyone through an accessible digital platform.
Website Design
Throughout the semester, I have learned valuable information to help me design my website. This information helped me organize my ideas, content, design, and links that I wanted to include in my site as well as things that are not part of a good design for a website. I wanted to have a design free of bias, I wanted to use powerful images, as learned in EDTC 620, and I followed the Lynch and Horton Web Style Guide that provided me with valuable information and standards for the design, components, and analysis of a website.
According to Lynch and Horton “consistency is the golden rule of interface design and wayfinding” (2011). My website has the same tittle and subtitle in every page, the description of the page weather if it is for students, teachers or parents; I am consistent with the design and it is predictable that the same location of the information will be in the next page, I included 32 pages of valuable information. The site has tabs to make navigation and orientation easier for the user applying Lynch and Horton’s guidelines for landmarks “consistent landmarks site navigation and graphics to keep user oriented” (2011). My site has clear navigation aids, the graphics, text, organization of information, page, tittle, and headings are all consistent and predictable. My site has integrity and stability because it is well designed and reliable, it looks professional, I have a contact page as suggested in the feedback and dialog element, and my information is accurate and updated. My site is easy to navigate, visually inviting, user-friendly, and well- expressed.
My classroom Website has well-designed, purposeful graphics and well-edited images, I cited all the images, videos, and sources beneath the image as suggested in the directions for the assignment. I included 5 pictures taken by me, I included at least one picture in every page, I included a collage about me. My site is user friendly and has well-organized navigation.
Contrasting my site with Lynch and Horton’s guidelines, I am missing few elements. The Browse vs search element is missing because I would have to upgrade to a fee plan if I use this widget, instead I have buttons and I am consistent with the design to help the user find information faster. Another element missing is the bandwidth and interaction to understand user’s location. I can see how many views have my website because Weebly has Google Analytics.
Website for Multiple Audiences
The content of my website will advance student learning, it will include parents into their child’s education, and it will help fellow colleagues to stay up to date with the latest technology changes in education. I incorporated useful information for students in my class and made it easy to access; this will provide them the opportunity to view the website from a computer at home or using their phone. Students can see the calendar which has homework due dates, very beneficial for the ones that are absent from class by any reason. Students who are interested in more practice will see the scope and sequence of the topics in each level; this will give them the opportunity to know what topic is coming up in case they want to read ahead. The website also includes links, tools and tutorials that we will use during class.
My other goal for my website is to strengthen communication between the school and families. Partnerships with schools, parents, and community will help student’s achievement of learning goals by getting the community involved with the school. I included important information for parents such as class events and newsletters. I provided links for the school, district, parent portal, and the national and state Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). The idea is to motivate parents to be active participants with the school and the community in order to maximize students’ opportunities to succeed.
I Included information for Educators. I included information about technology in education, as well as the TPACK, the SAMR model, and the 21st century skills. I also included learning strategies, links, and tools. My website also has Digital Citizenship information for students and parents, a blog, information about world language standards, copy rights information page,creative commons license, all the pictures, documents, and videos are cited, a newly developed web-based instructions unit, US access board page, and my UMUC projects showcasing a portfolio for my projects.
Newly Developed (Original) Web-based Instructional Unit
My Problem Based Learning Unit is on Children Immigration. It is a real world problem affecting our country at this time. I created a WebQuest where students need to gather information about the topic and have them solve a real life problem. I used provoking images to prompt students to use critical skills, as well as links and videos. The webquest has 7 pages in total, introduction, tasks 1-7, rubric, teacher page with standards for the lesson, and credits page. The WebQuest is easy to navigate; the images and links help the students to build their understanding of this crisis with a constructivism approach.
Conclusion
Reflecting on this assignment, I have gained valuable information about technology use in the classroom and in teaching methods. Before I started in UMUC, my knowledge for technology was limited and I was afraid of trying new things; but, the content of the classes has helped me look outside the box and explore different tools and methods of teaching. This is just the beginning of my journey and I know it is a long process. I also know that technology is always evolving, but the more I learn, the more I feel comfortable trying new educational tools. I have been using my website in my classes and I will continue to use it because it has informative and valuable information. The website helps me to integrate technology into my class and will provide easy access to my class information.
References
Consol, M (2009). 10 keys to an effective website. Retrieved fromhttp://ezinearticles.com/?10-Keys-to-an-Effective-Website&id=3046947
Lynch, P. & Horton, S. (2011). Web style guide. Retrieved from http://www.webstyleguide.com/
Roblyer, M.D. & Doering, A. H. (2013). Integrating educational technology into teaching. Sixth Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Vandelay Design (2007). 10 keys to effective writing on the web. Retrieved from http://vandelaydesign.com/effective-writing-for-the-web/