Avalon's Blog: Module Reflections

This class has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my semester. When I first started, I wasn’t sure how comfortable I’d feel working with digital tools, especially ones I hadn’t used before. But looking back now, I’ve learned so much about educational technology, and I’ve built skills that I know I’ll carry into my future as an educator. From creating an infographic with QR codes to designing a lesson plan and working with tools like Google Sites and Adobe Express each module challenged me to step outside my comfort zone. I’ve learned how to build organize content clearly and make learning more accessible and engaging. I also learned how important reflection is, not just for students but for teachers too. Each project helped me see what I’m capable of, especially when I take my time and trust the process. One of the biggest takeaways from this course is that technology isn’t just about flashy tools or new gadgets. It’s about how we use those tools to support learning, build...

We’re officially at Module 9, and everything is coming together. This module felt like the final steps in putting my ePortfolio into motion and tying up all the different skills I’ve learned throughout the semester. I reviewed the Google Sites video again, which helped me feel more confident about organizing my ePortfolio. I realized that I’ve done a lot this semester, and it’s nice to finally see it all come together in one place. One of the assignments I enjoyed most was using games and puzzles in education. For this I used Quizlet, which I am very familiar with, to create a game/activity from my budget lesson plan. I liked how simple it was to build, and it made me think about how I could incorporate tools like this to make my future lesson plans more engaging. It’s easy to assume games are just for fun, but this showed me how they can be used to help students memorize and retain information in a way that feels low-pressure and interactive. Creating the professional organization s...

We’re getting so close to the end of the semester! Module 8 had a good mix of creativity and organization, which made it one of my favorite modules so far. One of the big things we started was our ePortfolio using Google Sites. It was exciting to finally begin pulling everything together in one place. At first, I didn’t know how I wanted it to look, but once I chose a theme and added some content, it started to feel more personal and meaningful. I also got to explore Adobe Express for the first time. I really enjoyed using it to create visuals. It was pretty straightforward, and I liked how polished everything looked. I can definitely see myself using Adobe Express in the future to make educational content more engaging. One part of this module that felt really familiar to me was the spreadsheets assignments. Since I have an accounting background, spreadsheets are kind of my thing. I didn’t struggle with the formulas or layout, and it was actually nice to use a skill I already feel c...

I can’t believe we’re already at Module 6! This one was really different from the others and focused on creating digital audio, using closed captioning on YouTube, and learning how to screencast. I didn’t realize how much goes into each of these tools until I started working on the assignments. One of the first things I did was watch the tutorial on how to use Audacity. I had never used it before, and I honestly thought it would be really complicated. It actually ended up being kind of fun. I liked playing around with the audio and learning how to trim and edit sound. It gave me more confidence using programs I used to avoid. Another part of the module I thought was really important was the YouTube closed captioning. I never really thought about how captions are added to videos, but this made me realize how important accessibility is. I had to be more thoughtful with my timing and wording to make sure the captions matched what was being said. I think it’s something I’ll always keep i...