Blog Journal #9

  My experiences in EME2040 have been very informational as it has given me a chance to be hands-on with online teaching tools and resources. My section is asynchronous, which allows me to create a schedule that works for me for weekly readings and completing tasks. I like that this classroom experience is a mix of independence and collaboration with fellow classmates. There is not anything I particularly dislike about my experience in the EME2040 class. When I am a teacher, to improve classroom experience I would utilize anonymous surveys to gauge my student's opinions on how the class is going so we can adapt to everyone’s preferences.

Open educational resources are an amazing tool for educators to find resources that give specific permission to be used in all capacities. These resources can be edited, shared, and revised, which is a great feature for collaborating with fellow instructors. The following link, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/1e6m_comparison_Mars_Mercury_Moon_Pluto_Haumea_-_no_transparency.png , is a great example of an open educational resource. For a science teacher, being able to use an image such as this one with a great depiction of the planets can be a helpful resource to aid students’ learning. 

While working on assignment 4: PowerPoint for Information Dissemination, I was able to be creative, envisioning my future classroom and what sort of lesson plan I would share with the students. I was able to practice my skills in creating PowerPoints, formatting, designing, and doing voiceovers. I also was able to strengthen my communication skills as I had to format my thoughts into words and then explain the lesson verbally.  I did like that this assignment gave me the freedom to choose a topic, grade level, and overall PowerPoint design choice. To improve it next time, I would include activities or interactive videos for the students to ensure engagement.