Original Goals & Objectives:
Goal #1: By January 31, 2016, using the Atomic
Learning Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase
my word processing and spread sheet skills.
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Turn automatic formatting options off
and on
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Use indent markers to create hanging
indent format, and indented quote format
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Apply spacing and alignment with ruler
options and with formatting palette and toolbar options
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Set tabs for columns of data
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Use tab markers and type tabbed columns
of data appropriately
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Use Leader Tabs
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Mail Merge with a word-processed
document (a table in MS Word), a spreadsheet (in MS Word), or a database
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Use ‘Track Changes’
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Use relative references to cells in a
formula
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Use absolute references to cells in a
formula
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Use Fill Series
Goal #2: By February 7, 2016, using the Atomic
Learning Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase
my knowledge of graphic skills
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Hide and show Drawing toolbar
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Add pages to document (AppleWorks only)
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Create layers of objects and move
objects to different layers
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Group and ungroup objects
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Create Text Objects for selected text
(note: this is different from borders) and before text is typed.
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Advanced: Link text boxes
Goal #3: By February 14, 2016, using the Atomic
Learning Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase my
knowledge of Databases Skills.
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Search for a specific record
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Sort records by two fields
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Edit records
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Add and delete records
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Change the layout of the record
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Add and delete fields
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Change the format of a field (as
increase decimal places in a number field)
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Merge the file with a word processing
document
Goal #4: By February 21, 2016, using Atomic Learning
Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase my skills
within Google applications to create and utilize professional documents.
-
Explore Google applications including
Google sheets, forms, and docs to increase team communication and
collaboration.
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Explore Google for Education options.
Goal #5: By March 6, 2016, using Atomic Learning
Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase my skills
within IntelliKeys as well as other alternative computer access programs to be
determined.
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Create & utilize IntelliKeys
Software to access page/keyboard to support writing lesson.
-
Explore alternative computer access
programs for preschool students.
Checklist
Reflection
Throughout the last 8
weeks, I have expanded my knowledge of educational technology. I quickly
brushed up and navigated through word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, slide
presentations, database, and e-mail skills.
I felt fairly comfortable going into this process and at the end I
realized, I
was a little too confident.
I had forgotten much of what I had learned from my 9th grade
year in high school computer class. It
has not changed too much since then, it is just about knowing where to look for
short cuts, the blue circle with the question mark in the upper right corner of Word applications
has become my friend. It is interesting, I found myself easily explaining how
to go about completing the skill sets, but struggled to produce a product to
demonstrate my skills.
I completed the
original checklist with 96% accomplished at the advanced level. I then went on to explore other technology
skills. I explored Google applications
including Google Forms, Google Hangouts, and look into Google for
Education. I have experience with Google
Drive, Docs, and Sheets, since they are quiet similar to Word applications and
other cloud storage spaces like Dropbox, so I had to dig a little deeper. Google Forms is so easy to use, it will
definitely be my go to survey tool!
Google Hangouts has a lot of potential.
It can be used anytime, anywhere, on any device. What is great is that
it goes through your email address rather than phone which is nice if you want
to connect with others without providing your personal phone number. Google for Education sounds like it is
becoming a great hub for educational communication. If I were in a classroom setting, I would definitely
be utilizing it. I could see benefits of using it with a school staff.
After my Google exploration, I dived into screencasts. My thought was that this may be a way for me
to connect with other professionals to demonstrate how-tos for computer skills.
I originally wanted to compare and contrast, but I did not want to commit to
purchasing and having to cancel a subscription to one of them. So I took on the
free one. It is harder than it
looks. It took me over 10 takes to get
the best 5 minute video. I learned that
there is more you need to know than just easily uploading the video. Through Jing (the screencast software I took
on) it uploads to their own website, you then can access it through the site,
which changes the size and display. Also,
I later realized that I could not access the file on my Apple devices because
it requires Adobe Flash Player, which is pretty useless considering all of my
colleagues utilize Apple devices. So, I
will continue to explore screencasting software and may need to invest in a
subscription.
Lastly, I focused my energy on alternative access. I originally wanted to dive into utilizing
IntelliKeys. This has been on my mind
since I saw it in action for the first time in a previous assistive technology class. However, after much thought, I realized it
may be best if I look into iPad access, since most of my colleagues, families I
work with, and classrooms I transition my students to use iPads versus
computers (not that I agree with that, this is just the reality). I already have previously looked into
alternative access for iPads in a previous assignment, but there are definitely
options out there. I was able to find
some a great presentation that included lots of information! It was difficult
to come up with a product for this post since I wasn’t using the technology to
actually create something, but it was all about access.
The Technology Boot
Camp has been very beneficial to me as an educational professional. It has
forced me to reflect on my own knowledge of technology and has helped me
improve and expand my skills. I
appreciate how it was adaptable and able to be personalized for what is
necessary in my line of work. Most of
the basic skills are useful for all professionals. This is a great system for
professional development because it can be adapted and individualized to meet
the needs for an array of skill sets.
When professionals can set their own goals, they are able to get
accomplish what is important to them. As
we have read in our course readings, we learn best when content is meaningful
and relevant to our own lives. Why learn about something that we will not need
to use? This has been a great opportunity
for me to explore educational technology. I look forward to continuing my expedition of educational technology through this blog.
