Blog Assignment #8

    Designing my class website posed many challenges. I used the website building platform Weebly, which while user friendly, has many different tabs and buttons. One thing that was frustrating while building my homepage was the lack of spacing and "enter" key functions. If I wanted spacing, I would have to add in the "space" filler from the dashboard to create the said space between paragraphs and headings. Needless to say, I know how to make a website now, and you can check it out here.

    Diigo is an amazing tool that should be talked about more in the classroom. I love that I can literally annotate or highlight any article with the function for free and upload that content for everyone in my group to see for free. Additionally to the accessibility of Diigo, it is also very simple and easy to use. I figured out how to bookmark web pages and online content, as well as add sticky notes relatively quickly.

    Developing and creating new engaging technological driven activities for students is one of many tasks for teachers. Websites, worksheets, PowerPoints, and a slew of educational functions are all incorporated into the modern teacher's curriculum. In addition to designing online content for students, teachers must also stay up to date on new developing technologies that will better equip their students. For me, I have found LamasaTech, a developer of technology solutions, to be the most informative when it comes finding the latest trends in educational technologies. 

Blog Assignment #7

    Teacher pages on a school's website are essential in this day and age. Having free access to a student's assignments and class calendar are not only beneficial to the parent, but the student as well. Harrison School for the Performing Arts has a clear and clean website design with the teacher pages easily accessible. Click on any submenu under the "Departments" tab, and you will find a list of varying departments with corresponding teacher pages filled with contact information and curriculum material.

    As a student, I thoroughly enjoy how user-friendly Canvas is. I plan on implementing Canvas with my future students, or encourage my school to invest in the program because it is a simplistic yet effective educational tool. I can use Canvas to share information, assignments, updates, and grades easily--it's all there at the click of a mouse! Punctuality and accountable are two important values for me as a student and a teacher; Canvas will help me implement my principles among my students.

    Using Wiki was slightly confusing for me. Primarily, the overall design was very outdated in appearance, and I had a difficult time physically identifying tabs I needed to click on to update the pages. Besides that, the program is relatively easy once you are acclimated with the tabs and the material. I would not use Wiki with any students who are not in high school because of the confusing layout and design; older students could handle understanding the content of the program.