CRASH........ :_(

Let me start off by saying that sometimes technology can be the DEVIL.  Yes, I said devil.  Last week, Lauren and I started on our group project that consists of a 4-6 page report and a presentation.  We agreed that we would both compile research, that I would be in charge of typing the report, and Lauren would put together the actual slideshow presentation. We were doing great emailing back and forth for stuff we found that would make our project grand. As we worked on our project in class, Lauren told me the story of how her computer crashed and she lost everything on it-- reports, pictures, and homework for her other courses.  She told me she would finally be getting her computer back from being fixed and she was back to square one.  I told Lauren that her and I have the same bad luck when it comes to technology.  Her recent computer crash must have rubbed off on me...yesterday, I made some minor changes, saved our report, and headed to work.  When I got home last night, my plan was to print out our final report and read it aloud to myself to make any last minute changes.  However, my plans changed when my computer showed the dreaded "blue screen of death."  I didn't panic, I had been through something like this before.  I rebooted my system and went to get a glass of water while I waited for it to reboot.  The moment I saw the blue screen again, I knew it was hopeless. I had lost the whole report.  All of our research- quotes, pictures, websites, that were nicely typed and inserted into 5 pages-- GONE.  After crying for 30 minutes, I calmly woke up my husband and asked if he had touched the computer even though I know he doesn't touch computers (I just wanted someone to yell at). 
I kept thinking that Lauren is going to kill me and its my fault for not having a report typed.  I had to type another report......from my memory.  We had to have something.  I dried my eyes, grabbed my daughter's laptop and looked at the clock, it was 1 a.m.  It was going to be a long night and it was.  I have not yet gone to sleep and sadly, I was not able to finish typing or printing out our report. 
I find it ironic that mine and Lauren's project is on how technology can be useful tools for teachers.  Although computers and technology can be used to enhance lessons in school, there are flaws.  I will never, eveR, evER,eVER, EVER trust another computer again.

My Word Cloud

PowerPoint (I am undecided)

One of our assignments for SEDU 183 was to create a PowerPoint to "teach" a class.  We had to chose an age group, a lesson, and research what the PA standards that must be taught.  Let me tell you my stomach was in knots!  Right off I knew what lesson I wanted to teach however, I was unsure if my lesson would teach all the standards.  As I looked on the PAS website, I was baffled on what to look under for my specific lesson.  I finally figured out what I was looking for by consulting my professor (mental note: there are no dumb questions, only dumb answers....)! So began my journey in the development of my presentation.  I take that back, its not a journey, it is a mental workout!

I decided the lesson would be on "Crash Blossoms" or confusing headlines reporters use that have multiple meanings. I chose 3 headlines and used pictures to illustrate one way the headline could be interpreted. This would also be the assignment for the students.  I knew what I wanted to do, so I started off looking for funny headlines.  Wow! You wouldn't believe how many "Crash Blossoms" in newspapers there are!  I had to keep in mind that the lesson could be used to teach 7th-12th grade students, so that meant the headline " Tiger Woods plays with own balls, Nike says" wouldn't work.  I don't even want to think about what pictures teenagers would find to interpret that one!  I was able to find clean ones and started my PowerPoint.

First of all, I have never used a PowerPoint program.  It was all greek to me.  If I wanted to put something on the slide, it seemed like it took 3 steps, keep in mind that this was my first attempt.  My professor showed us how to hyperlink this and embed that, but I was still confused with what tab to click on just to go to the next slide!  The "UNDO" button became my best friend during this project.  I finally figured it out and had about 7 or 8 slides.  I had looked at my PowerPoint so much that every time I proofread it, I would yawn.  I agonized about my slideshow being boring but it would have to do, I had run out of time to work on it.

Then came the day to present it to my group.  With knots in my tummy, I flipped through each slide "teaching" my lesson.  To my surprise, my group really liked my PowerPoint!  All positive comments and they liked my use of humor. (mental note: don't overthink things, a joke is only the funniest the first time you hear it...)
My thoughts on this project are mixed.  I love to figure out ways to teach kids, but PowerPoint is confusing.  I realized I just need more practice with the program but my ideas on how to present lessons are pretty good!