Reflection

As this year of TATC ends, I find it very hard to explain how much I have learned. Looking through all the assignments I've done, and choosing artifacts for this portfolio has reminded me of how much work I've completed this year, and how much I have grown in every area we have covered. It is also a reminder to me that I'm not really done. Staying current, and even a little ahead, in technology requires constant learning and improvement. I want to use what I've learned as I plan, coordinate, and evaluate the technology in my district. The things I've learned will enable me to provide technology leadership and support to district staff. I am not the same person, technologically, that I was this time last year! And I think that is an improvement! I expect to continue improving in these areas, and to learn new technology as it comes along. I will be attending the Master Technology Teacher Certification program in the fall. My plan is to pass the certification test, and then begin a master's degree at UNT spring semester. I also plan to take the TATC module that will certify me for K-5 Technology Applications sometime during 2003-2004.

Standards I-V is the foundation for technology integration. Being conversant about technology terms & concepts, being able to use hardware & software effectively, and being able to find and evaluate electronic information are so important in today's world. My goal is to continue learning in this area so that I can develop my understanding of how learning can be facilitated using technology effectively, and help others do the same.

Standard VII addresses everything about desktop publishing. I had some knowledge of the principals and elements of design relating to textiles, and home furnishing. I had experience in desktop publishing in business, as well as teaching it in middle school Computer Literacy, but in this class, I learned how much I didn't know! So many of the concepts were new to me! The relevance of design concepts really began to hit home with me here. I have a sense of what makes something look good, but until you can name, and explain what makes design good or bad, you don't really know how to duplicate it, or teach it. I have accomplished this standard by producing different types of desktop publishing products, including logos, business cards, stationary, and newsletters, while applying appropriate concepts in order to communicate to a targeted audience. These are things I use almost daily in communicating with a school district. I now have the skills needed to produce professional looking informational documents. I have learned to use industry standard software, such as Adobe Illustrator and Adobe PageMaker. I had the most difficulty creating newsletters. One page is easy -- several pages, more challenging. What I need to continue working on is using Illustrator and PageMaker, and creating newsletters that carry out the design concepts throughout each page of the newsletter.

Standard VIII covers Digital Graphics and Animation. This was one of the first modules we took in TATC. This class was a wonderful one to start with! The only experience I'd had with digital graphics was adding graphics to documents, and doing simple resizing or editing colors. I have accomplished this standard by learning about the history of animation, understanding the concepts and related terminology, creating/editing digital graphics & animations, and learning more about the hardware and software required to work with digital graphics. I began to use a scanner more often, and understand the characteristics and applications of the graphics produced by scanning. I've learned to utilize many of the features that Photoshop 7.0 provides in creating my own graphics, and editing others. I understand how to optimize graphics and why it's important. I've always enjoyed digitally animated movies and in this module, I had some very interesting discussions about the history of animation, but I had never created an animation! My skills have greatly improved since we first learned to create an animation. I found that my animation idea develops as I create it. I don't start out with a final product; it grows as I work with it. As I look back, I see that the each module built upon what we had learned in the previous one. What I've learned in this standard applies to Desktop Publishing, Web Authoring, Video and Multimedia. The principles and elements of design are used to create images that communicate. The images, and design principles & elements are then used to create effective web pages, tell a story using video, or make a presentation powerful. I recently was given a map of my school district that was on two pieces of paper, and was asked to digitize it into one document. Because of what I've learned in this standard I was able to do that quickly and successfully without any difficulty. I would like to improve my skills in creating animations, and rollover images and will continue to use these types of graphics in my work.

Standard IX encompasses all the knowledge & skills required in Multimedia. I had the pleasure of attending a workshop presented by Bernajean Porter in the spring. The presentation that she gave that day has become a standard for me to strive for in using Multimedia. Incorporating text, images, animation, audio and video in informational presentations provides visual communication that can reach many styles of learning. The Multimedia course incorporates parts of each of the other Technology Applications courses. I have used and taught PowerPoint presentations for several years, but I've learned a lot of things in this standard that help make presentations more professional, and appropriate for a targeted audience. I've accomplished this standard by creating projects that include still images, video, animation, text and sound. I had never edited sound files or added them to video before. In my current job, I'm frequently called upon to present information in some digital format. This next year I will be using video to demonstrate what is happening in technology in our district. I look forward to using and improving the skills I've learning in Multimedia.

Standard X, Video Technology, was the module that I both looked forward to, and dreaded. I had only used a video camera once, or twice before, and I couldn't imagine what I'd do to add sound and create my own video. I struggled every week, to learn the concepts, utilize the hardware and software, and produce the projects. This was one of the last modules in the TATC program. Everything I had learned about design, digital graphics, desktop publishing, web authoring and multimedia laid the ground for Video Technology. I've accomplished this standard by learning about the hardware and software required to create digital video, writing scripts and creating storyboards, creating project management plans, and fulfilling various video production roles. In my elective, 205 Video Technology, I was challenged to use and increase the knowledge and skills acquired in 105 Video Technology. I learned more than I thought I ever wanted to know about selecting equipment for a classroom, by researching, analyzing information, and choosing equipment to fit a budget. I created a video each week, edited and incorporated audio, and added animated text. One of the most fun videos I created was one that demonstrated bad camera techniques. I knew I had learned a lot, because I had to concentrate to make sure I did the wrong things in filming this video! Almost any problem that could be encountered, I experienced while learning this standard. With the help and encouragement of course facilitators, and classmates I persevered! And because of it I think I've learned the most in Video Technology! I even think I've found a new hobby! My goal for this next year is to show teachers how to create and use video in their classroom, and to create training videos.

Standard XI covers Web Authoring. I have always enjoyed creating web pages for classroom use, but had never created a large website. I have accomplished this standard by creating many web pages for the TATC projects. I was introduced to new, industry standard software - Adobe GoLive - and have become adept at creating web pages quickly without problems. By creating so many web pages for this program, I have increased my understanding and appreciation for folder management and hierarchy. I have learned about navigation schemes, layout & design, HTML, JavaScript and web page passwords. One of the most interesting sections to me was learning about firewalls and network security. Through my learning, I have gained a greater appreciation for the leadership in our district and how far we have progressed in terms of our infrastructure and security. I feel that my web pages have finally begun to have a professional appearance and are easy to navigate for most users. I want to learn to create web pages with Macromedia Dreamweaver. When I observed a Technology Applications course, this is what the students were using. It has some features that are different from GoLive and I would like to learn to use it. I also struggled with rollover buttons during this course. I was advised that learning more about JavaScript would help me be successful in creating rollovers that worked, so I guess that's on my list, too!

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