Blog post #4

 

One digital standard that caught my attention is the ELA.8.C.5.2. This standard explains the importance of learning how to use a variety of digital tools that make it easier to collaborate with others when producing written material. With my current skill set, I do feel prepared to implement this standard with my students. I have experience using online tools like Google Docs, which are extremely helpful when simultaneously working with a group to write an article, paper, or any other written product. If my students face difficulties, I would be able to answer their questions and guide them through the learning process.

As a psychology student, I was intrigued by reading the standards set for this subject. Even though the standards were very specific and diverse, one thing I noticed was the lack of resources listed for most of the standards. Out of the first 20 standards that appeared, only one had listed resources, SS.912.P.2.2 (describe and compare a variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods). The resources for this standard were videos with topics that are entertaining and educational for high school students. In addition, they included a Word document with possible questions to ask students after watching the videos to ensure comprehension. Overall, I would use these resources when teaching to make the class more dynamic and to teach students how to apply what we learn to real-life scenarios.

The newsletter assignment helped me acquire new skills when using Microsoft Word. One of my favorite tasks was making sure the newsletter had an aesthetic look and making sure that all the items looked good together. The most useful skill I learned was changing the settings of the images to make moving them around easier. This is something I had always struggled with when working in MS, and I was very happy when I learned how to fix the issue. To improve future newsletters, I would make sure to add all the written parts first and then add the images and graphics, as I had some trouble arranging them in columns. The skills I learned in this assignment would be useful when I’m a psychologist to share important scientific findings with my clients in a fun and educational format.