End of the quarter assessment

I wanted to assess how much I have learned this quarter and how my attitude towards technology has changed.
1. What were your technology skills before the quarter? What are they now?
- My technology skills before the quarter were relatively low. I had basic computer skills such as typing, email, browser searching, attaching/sending files, but now I feel those skills are much greater because of how many different things I can now do (SmartBoard, higher skills in PowerPoint, KidPix, Ellison Press, Newsletters, deciphering URLs, working with new programs like TaskStream and BlogSpot etc.)
2. What was helpful to you as a learner about the way this course was taught?
- Sometimes making us to search out the assignments on our own without any help was beneficial because it made us take a different look and approach to the website/program. Sometimes it made the assignment more difficult, but all in all the way the topics were presented were done successfully.
3. What was your favorite thing you learned in this class this quarter about 1) how to use technology, 2) yourself, 3) your profession?
- My favorite thing we learned with technology was the SmartBoard, I hope I'm placed in a school community that can afford one, my schools growing up never could!
-My favorite thing I learned about myself is that I can use advanced technology. I just have to be patient and positive that I can learn it.
-My favorite thing I learned about technology and my profession is that technology doesn't have to be a hindrance to my daily activities, but a really big help to me as a teacher! Im really excited about being able to incorporate fun technology into my classroom atmosphere.
4. What was your favorite project? Why? Tell us about one piece of work.
- My favorite project was the Lapbook. I also really enjoyed SmartBoard and PowerPoint, but I feel most proud of the time and effort I put into my Lapbook assignment. I liked this the most because it wasn't all of the computers work, it was completely all of my creativity, planning and hard work!

Learning the Ellison Machine

I was extremely excited when we were assigned to work with the Ellison Machine. As a future teacher I knew that I would need to be accustomed with the machine and it's capabilities. We were assigned to make an interactive assessment lapbook based on an Ohio Content Standard. I chose to make an assessment lapbook on K-2 History.
Before I decided how I wanted to put my lapbook together, I looked over the possible print or cutouts I could create using the Ellison Machine. By definition the Ellison Press is a shape-cutting machine. Ellison is a company that creates die-cut machines that enhance and make creating lesson plans easy. The machine uses square die-cuts that have the designs on them and then you use the actual press to imprint the image onto construction paper.
After completing the project, I feel confident in my ability to incorporate this technology into my weekly or monthly activities in my classroom! Also, to make the press available for students if supervised, to incorporate the technology into their projects and activities.
I am very pleased with how the project turned out and how much I learned about the Ellison Press!