Blog #9

     Distance learning this semester has definitely been a unique introduction to college. I have really enjoyed my synchronous courses because I am able to interact with other students and my instructors. For my asynchronous courses, I feel as if I am not learning as much because I am just completing assignments on my own time. I enjoy that distance learning has given me more flexibility in my schedule throughout the day. I am not sitting in a chair in front of a screen for an 8 hour period. I have the freedom to go out and get lunch, take a walk around Landis Green for a brain-break, and sleep in most days. My biggest issue with distance learning is feeling disconnected from most of my instructors. As a student, I strive to build relationships with my instructors so that I feel comfortable asking for help when needed. For most classes, especially my asynchronous ones, I am afraid to ask for help because I haven't had the outlets to build connections with my instructors. I also dislike not being inside the classroom. I feel as if I am not able to focus when I am working in my dorm room. I have tried to do work in the Academic Resource Center, a location that feels most like a classroom so that I can limit potential distractions. When I am a teacher, I plan to help improve the experience of distance learning by letting my students get to know me. I want them to feel comfortable reaching out to ask a question if they need help. I want my future students to understand that, even though it is a virtual environment, it is a safe space for them to learn and grow. 

    Open Education Resources are educational tools, like images and worksheets, that can be used for free. The five rights that are granted for free use are retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute. This way, teachers and schools do not have to worry about paying extensive amounts to get resources for their students. Campus Technology is a website that gives miniature descriptions about 16 OER Sites that every teacher should know about. It links these websites so that instructors do not have to search for them on the internet. Some of the resources linked include the OER Commons website, free online textbook sites for both college level and lower-level education, and webinars that further explain Open Education Resources. Click the link here to visit this source: https://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/07/02/16-oer-sites-every-educator-should-know.aspx

    I really enjoyed working on the two PowerPoint assignments for this course. Getting to find engaging powerpoint templates is the most exciting part for me. I feel as if I can show my personality through a lesson based on the templates I chose to use. It was difficult for me to figure out how to add the shortcuts in PowerPoint. I remember doing a similar assignment to the Jeopardy assignment in 7th grade, but I had to reteach myself how to add those shortcuts. Having to add that to all of the slides was tedious, but once I figured out that you could copy and paste the shortcut into the slides, it went a lot quicker. The teaching PowerPoint show gave me some trouble. When I downloaded it as a video, my PowerPoint template disappeared on most of the slides. It made the slides look empty. I had to rerecord multiple times due to saving difficulties as well. I enjoyed getting to virtually teach something; however, I did not enjoy all the obstacles I had to endure. I feel like I can improve next time by trying to download and save different ways. I would have to play around with the features on my computer, but I would like to find an easier way to complete the download. I also think I can improve by finding a way to add video to the recording. I taught a math lesson for the first PowerPoint assignment, and I feel as if it would be easier for the students if they could see me while teaching. In the pictures below are the title slides for the two PowerPoint presentations.