Assessing My Work In My Summer PD

My Summer PD class has come to a close and the last assignment is to assess the work that I completed using the assessment information I learned in the first week.

Some assessment tools for students would not apply, for example, improving on keyboarding skills, but let's take a look at the assessment tools that would apply.  

Did the student:

• try to solve problems before asking for help,
• display creativity and critical thinking in the achievement of goals,
• teach others,
• create a document that included all the elements required, 
• shows evidence of learning by using tech knowledge and save what they created in their portfolio,
• transfer knowledge from previous lessons,  
• complete daily goals, and 
• know correct language to verbalize.

Now let's take a look at the projects.

Project #1

• If you don’t already have a teacher blog, set one up.  
• Link to your blog is on your digital portfolio page so classmates can find you.
• Join class wiki account and set up your personal page—your digital portfolio. 

Project #2

• Try three online tools of your choice that address this week's theme
• Complete a project in one or more and upload or embed to your digital portfolio and your blog.
• Use a screencast program to show how to use the online tool.  Upload or embed screencast to wiki page 'Common Tech Problems' or 'Skills' to share with classmates.
• Include a screenshot of the video using one of the suggested screenshot programs.
• Embed the screencast into your blog.

I didn't have a blog, so I had to create one.   I chose to use Google's Blogger because my district is using Google in the Classroom.  If I assess myself using some of the assessment tools listed above, I would say that I was a problem solver, reviewing all my options to create my blog before I sought help. However, there were times where I had to seek ideas with questions posted to the discussion board. The easy way would be to have someone  tell me how to do a task while I feverishly write down all the steps.  It would be much faster this way, but I have to admit that problem solving on my own always changes my brain.  I am constantly having a conversation with myself on how to solve the problem.  I have that far away look on my face as I think, "Maybe I just need to do it this way."   

That experience has led me to try to help other by sharing what I learned from my trial and errors.  I don't want to deny them their own brain growth, but if I thought I could offer a suggestion to help, I would.  And the saying is, "Students remember 90% of what they teach."

One of the best benefits of learning  creative new ways to showcase my own work was how I could apply the information to student's work, "This will be good for the California Missions, and this one for a 'Getting to Know You' activity."

I was diligent to include all the elements requested, and completed the goals within the time period to stay on track, even though we had an extended amount of time if needed.  I was having so much fun learning new programs that I completed eight projects.  I saved all my work that demonstrates my learning to both my wiki portfolio and my blog, using the technology that I had learned, a screenshot and a screencast, so I could review the information later.

I found that many of the programs, applications, and websites followed the same steps to link, or embed the page, and post to my blog, so it was relatively simple to seamlessly move from one program to the next, enabling me to transfer my knowledge between lessons.  I had to stay on it, practicing day after day.  If I took a break, even from the morning of one day to the evening  of the following day, I found myself digressing, and thinking, "Did I do it this way, or that way."  Practice, practice, practice was crucial.

Probably the hardest task was to use the correct vocabulary when I was making the screencasts.  It wasn't that I didn't know the difference between a "screenshot and a screencast," "copy and paste," or "link and embed," but the correct word would escapes me while recording.  Hence, I noticed a few error in my vocabulary.  

All in all, I would have to say that I am pleased with what I accomplished and learned over the last three weeks in my Summer PD class.  It wasn't always easy, but it was always thought provoking.   I am happy with the work that I have accumulated in both my digital portfolio, and my blog, and loved sharing the assignments with friends, family, and fellow teachers.  "Listen to what we had to do," I said, as I read the assignment.  "Wow, can you do that?" they'd ask.  "I can now," I replied.