Lesson 3

This week we learned about different computer software and hardware that can be used in the classroom.  Chapters four and six of our textbook discussed different programs and how they could be used for diverse learners in the classroom.  Although I was familiar with many of the available products I enjoyed seeing how they could be incorporated in the classroom.  One tool I was not familiar with was electronic whiteboards.  I really enjoyed the “Assistive Technology for the Hearing Impaired” video.  I was excited to see the electronic whiteboard technology used in the classroom to help students communicate.  I also like the idea of the students writing on the board with their finger or a stylus as opposed to a marker. This technology would be useful to all learners in the classroom, and I really think its possibilities are endless.  I think this technology is a great example of the 21^st Century skill of learning and innovation skills.  Using this unique technology will allow the students to be creative and share their ideas with other students more effectively.

We also discussed the use of word processing and desktop publishing heavily.  Although I am not teaching, I do utilize these programs often for church related events.  After reading our websites and book and watching videos, I am more aware of potential issues in the items I create.  I know they need to be visually appealing, but they also need to be easy to read.  Multiple fonts, different size text, and different color text can all make the easy comprehension of your document difficult.  Too many graphics can detract from your message along with multiple columns in different areas of the page.  I think the best thing to remember is keep it simple.  You want your message to be received by either by the parents or students effectively. 

I have uploaded a sample of a program I did for a children’s Christmas program.  This was a basic program that was only being used to let the parents and other guest know the order of events.   We wanted to keep it straightforward so everyone could follow along easily.  I used simple graphics at the top and bottom of the sheet to keep viewers’ eyes focused on the words between the graphics that acted as borders.  I also used one font type to keep it uniform throughout.  I did use two font colors to make the program festive, but I stuck with dark colors that would show up against a white background.  Overall I think the flyer is successful, but as I become more familiar with DTP, I hope to create more extensive documents in my classroom.