Post #2

In all honesty, I am kinda confused on what the difference is between application software and productivity software is. They both speak a lot about word processing so this is where I get confused. Is application software just the basic application (like word pad) and productivity software the advanced, life easing programs (like Word?) Either way, I can't imagine my life without productivity software. These programs, like word and excel, really help make my life easier. I am able to create contact lists and a budget with excel and I am able to write my papers efficiently with word.

I have never actually put an email address or a hyper link in a word document before so this was definitely something new for me. I can see how it will be helpful in the future though. It will be helpful if I decide to post something on a class website. This way, students will be able to read my document and continue on to the hyperlink if needed or email me if they have a question.

I really am getting excited about possibly being a teacher one day. I really think that I would be great at it. Now if I could figure out what grade level I would like to teach. :)

Post #1

I believe that John M. Keller's ARCS motivational model is pretty dead-on. Technology is so important in student's lives today and tying technology with the classroom should spark student's interest more. By using digital media in the classroom, you focus not only on auditory learners but visual learners as well. This is important so that all student's can focus and not help just one specific learning group.

Since my first post, I have learned some new things about Microsoft Word that I never knew existed. I have used Microsoft Word for as long as I can remember, but used it only for papers for school. Every now and again I would add a table or a graph to it, but that's about it. Now I know how to add pictures, hyper links, columns, and page breaks. This will all be helpful in the future in order to make handouts more interesting for my students.

I am actually really excited about this class and am looking forward to seeing what other new things that I am going to learn. Although, I am not excited that it is at 9 am, but I guess I'll survive. :)

My first post

I like to think of myself as being technologically savvy, but in reality I am not. Since I am an english-creative writing major, I know how to use Microsoft Word well. I am in a co-ed fraternity that uses listserve to keep everyone informed, so I use that often. I also send my family and friends email, pay my bills online, and post on blackboard for class assignments. But other than that, I really don't know that much. I don't know how to create a website or use Microsoft Excel or Access at all. Basically, I know the minimum of what I need to know in my daily life.

I just hope to learn more about computers and technology overall in this class. Other students had great ideas to learn how to make things interesting for their students, and I would definitely like to learn that as well. I would like to make sure that if I do decide to become a teacher that I am an interesting and fun one, not a boring, lame one. :)

After taking the learning style questionnaire, I am not surprised about what I saw. I am an extreme visual learner. When I am taking a test, I visualize my notes in my head and can actually see where on the piece of paper my note is that answers the question I am looking for. I am also a detail-oriented person. I understand details before I understand the whole picture. After I get the whole picture, I see how all of the details fit together. I am an organized person and am almost O.C.D. about it, so this makes sense to me.