Self Reflections

Microsoft Word

I use Microsoft Word with my students from the beginning of the year.  One project that we did to begin the year was a personal narrative story.  My students had about a week to write a story about something that has happened to them.  I give my class one writing period a week to work on publishing pieces using Word.  When students finished with this particular assignment, I had them draw a self portrait of themselves and then scanned the drawings.  I then placed the drawings on the document.  Each student got to print one copy to keep and one for our class book.

Microsoft Publisher

This assignment was one part of our 2-4 week unit on nutrition.  Students were put into groups of 3.  They had to create a menu for a healthful restaurant.  Before we went to the lab, students had to plan some healthful meals and think of some creative details to put on the menu.  I have a menu template created that each group can save to a file and then make changes according to their own restaurants.  One thing that I changed this year has been that I required the students to tell how many servings of what food group the customers would be getting with each item on the menu.  This has been a challenge for some students, but well worth it to help with the objectives of the assignment.  Next year I think I will create a form for students to fill out before going to the lab instead of just having them use their own notes.

Microsoft PowerPoint

I have never used PowerPoint with my class before.  This was a new experience.  I knew this group would handle it well.  They are very computer literate and learn quickly when it comes to technology.  I decided to start simple and have them do a project that they wouldn’t have to think too much about.  We started creating a slide show on the 6 Traits of writing.  I gave them a handout to help them with the information and then gave them step-by-step instructions on using PowerPoint.  They love it!  I haven’t started to teach them about transitions or sounds yet, but I’m sure they will enjoy that even more.  I know that I will do more projects this year using PowerPoint.  Problems with motivation seem to disappear when using computers.

Microsoft Excel

I created a tutorial for teachers about using Excel.  I use Excel every year to create my class schedule, and I find it very useful to color code my classes and have a neat looking schedule.  I hope that other teachers will find the tutorial useful.  I have created a link to the tutorial on my web site.

Microsoft Access

Internet

I created a clickable worksheet about maps this past summer at USF.  This worked out perfectly because our new Social Studies curriculum stresses map skills as one of the skills that should be taught at the beginning of the year.  I used two class periods for this project.  Students didn’t get as far as I would have liked.  They only got through the first two assignment boxes.  These did work just like I had hoped.  It was just time consuming.  There are some changes with the worksheet that I need to make before I try using it again.  I think the wording on some of the questions is a little confusing for 3^rd graders.  The printer in the lab wasn’t working right when we were doing this project, so that complicated things a little bit.

Rubistar

I created a tutorial for using Rubistar to develop evaluation tools.  I didn’t realize how much work goes into creating tutorials.  Luckily they are easy to find on-line.  I spent a little time teaching the Intel participants about Rubistar, and I e-mailed each participant my Rubistar tutorial.  I didn’t get any feedback from them however.

Technology Unit

I have two technology integration units planned, but I have only tried the nutrition unit with students.  The water unit doesn’t fit into my curriculum until closer to spring (I have to coordinate with the Water Festival).  This is the second year that I have done the nutrition unit with my class.  This year has gone much better than last, and I’m sure that next year will be even better.  One of the cool things about this unit is a website that I found that allows students to enter in foods that they have eaten and the program calculates the nutritional value of the meal.  Students can get an idea if they are getting what they need with what they eat.  I like how this is individualized for each student.  Students also get to create a menu using Publisher.  The first year I did this I didn’t know what to expect.  The kids did great and caught on very quickly.  This year has been no different.  I have learned not to set my expectations too low when it comes to students using technology.  Even some of my most struggling students have shown that they can and do excel when given the opportunity without lowering expectations.

Mentor

I had the opportunity to mentor 11 teachers through a class that I taught called Intel Teach to the Future.  This was a perfect opportunity to practice working with staff members on using technology.  The course was four hours once a week for ten weeks for a total of 40 hours.  The curriculum involved designing a unit using multimedia presentations, publications such as a newsletter or brochure, and a web site.  I was trained this summer by an individual from Intel.  The focus of this course was to integrate technology into the current curriculum while focusing on state content standards.  The 11 teachers that participated in the class varied in comfort level with technology.  I had the opportunity to share tips about using PowerPoint, Word, and Publisher.  Many of the participants were very appreciative of the skills they learned in this class.  One participant even said that, “this was the best 2 credit class (she has) ever taken.”
 

Wade Helleson
Created:  06/2002
Updated:  11/01/2005
Send comments to:
Wade.Helleson@k12.sd.us