EDLD+5363+Course+Reflection



// **1. What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you had envisioned?** // I envisioned a course that would equip me with the knowledge to effectively lead other teachers as well as students in the area of creating and using multimedia applications in an educational setting. I believed that we would experience a variety of multimedia applications and softwares. Yes, I did achieve these outcomes to the extent possible in the short time frame of the class. I am now familiar enough with the preparation, creation, and editing of mulitmedia projects that I feel confident in teaching others. As with any coursework the true test of my knowlege will come when I actually lead a technology training for my district. I still need additional training in the actual classroom applications that multimedia projects and software offer. I would have liked to have more content information on the variety of classroom uses. The course outcomes aligned with my the ones I had envisioned with the exception of the need for additional training regarding multimedia and student learning.

The use of multimedia is relevant to my current teaching assignment and my future career goals. Since my school district has invested considerable money to transform our district from traditional paper and pencil education to computer notebooks with one to one ratios, the multimedia class has greatly enriched my ability level and will consequently be of benefit to my district. I can start the school year with a cadre of fresh ideas for the integration of multimedia technology into my curriculum and the curriculums of my colleagues. I am especially excited that some of the software that I used in the class is freeware. The cost benefit of freeware to school districts should never be discounted. My principal and other technology leaders will be more open to the use of new software in the classroom when the cost to the district is minimal. I also believe that student created multimedia projects create work examples that principals and district leaders are eager to "show off" to the community. I envision leading teachers and students in the use and creation of mulitimedia projects and the use of software.
 * // 2. To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not? //**

// **3. What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?** // I did not fully understand the use of Creative Commons. I spent considerable time exploring and reading the website. However, I needed someone to explain the Creative Commons concept to me more fully. Eventhough I used the search tool through the website to locate video to use in my week 2 assignment, I was unclear about the exact verbage to use when citing a Creative Commons licensed source. This confusion lasted even through my final video PSA group assignment. I did email my group members about the proper citation, but we all generally seemed confused. I needed a person to explain the Creative Commons use to me through a reading or video. As stated above I also did not receive extensive intruction in the use of multimedia projects in the classroom. I should not rely on my professor for this instruction. I need to take the initiative to locate information that would answer my lingering questions. I did have great success in asking clarifying questions to the members of my video group.

Yes, I was successful in completing all of the required assignments. My group functioned well together and were especially supportive and cooperative when completing the the group project. We used the mail feature on Wikispaces to facilitate our communication. Each member of the group were assigned tasks and timelines in which to complete the task. One source of discouragement was the inability to exchange files that are too large for emails and wikis. The files in question were the individual video clips for the PSA assignment. We first tried the site- [|www.picasa.com]. The site did allow users to post large video files, but it prohibited other users from downloading the video. We then utilized Youtube. We posted the video clips to Youtube. It does require the downloader to use the site- [|www.keepvid.com] and the freeware- WinFF to convert the video to a wmv file that is compatible with Microsoft Movie Maker. After the final editor completed the editing of the video, it was reposted in final form to Youtube.
 * // 4. Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not what prevented or discouraged you? //**

// 5. What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes? // I learned that my strength in technology is with the classroom application areas. I am most knowledgeable and confident in my abilities to relate to the classroom teacher techniques and ideas for technology. I am not a skilled videographer or film maker. I do not find much interest in creating and editing video. I enjoy leading and motivating others to produce quality products. I was very hesitant about my video skills when the project began, but I gained confidence through the practice assignments leading to the finished assignment. I still am not a person that would seek a position where the main focus would be video production. I do feel confident after this course to teach students and teachers in the techniques and skills used in multimedia productions. I understand the various formats and uses for each. The brainstorming and storyboarding of the project is a particular skill that I now possess and could pass to others.  