Goal

Increase understanding and implementation of message design, digital images and interactive technology. Create works that I can incorporate in my seminary classroom and evaluate possible future practice.

Reflection

As a Master’s student working on my degree in Instructional Technology, I expected that I would need to increase my technological understanding and skills. This was something that persuaded me to pursue further education in this program. I felt like much of my undergrad learning was full of cognitive and essential learning but limited in experience and project-based learning. I hoped this would be different pursuing a master’s degree and for the most part it was more hands on learning. This goal might seem vague but I did not know what types of message design, digital images or interactive technology I would be able to incorporate in my seminary class. Nor did I realize the full potential of interactive technology in education. Thus, it has been a challenging and rewarding to sift through all the various techniques that I have learned to see what I can apply.

I felt empowered my first semester in ITEC 5320 Visual Literacy, because of all the projects we examined and created. Before the class, I felt confident in my artistic abilities and soon realized the theories and principles that could strengthen my work. As I analyzed images to evaluate and critique their visual literacy I found myself evaluating my own PowerPoint slides for my seminary lessons. I incorporated many principles from the works every time (WET) layout and found them to be easier to read and the students were more engaged. I practiced these principles by creating a personal logo, infographics, flyers and other instructional visuals (see multimedia portfolio). These projects helped increase my design skills and now I always strive to use these methods in creating assignments or visuals in my instruction.

While these projects were challenging, I soon found out that I would learn how to use more advanced multimedia tools, such as: Adobe Photoshop, iMovie, Camtasia, VSCO and other free online tools like Pizap, Canva, and Easelly in ITEC 5120 Digital Imaging, and ITEC 5350 Digital Media in Instruction (see multimedia portfolio).These courses have had some of the most challenging projects but they have helped me build a solid foundation for creating and using a variety of multimedia tools. With these skills, I have been able to develop instructional posters, images and video for my seminary classroom, which has been entertaining and engaging for me and my students.

In ITEC 4340 Technology Integration in Teaching I learned how to effectively prepare lesson plans according to the ASSURE model. The examination of these plans has directly helped me more effectively create lesson plans with a variety of methods to engages students in the learning process (see 4340 attachments). I also learned how to use different interactive apps that augment reality. This new trend was interesting and exciting. I plan to take this to another level with the AR Bible app that I have begun to develop (see multimedia portfolio). This will allow students to easily walk in the Holy Land and learn on a more personal level in their seminary classes.

Overall, I feel very confident that I have met this goal. The challenge of using various types of instructional technology inspires me. I hope to surpass my beginning expectations for this and do as much as I can to apply the strategies that I have learned. While there are other multimedia tools that I have not mastered, I feel like I have the ability to effectively create quality instructional media tools for any situation. I know I have a greater understanding of how to use mobile devices to engage learners.

Artifacts

Summer 2016 ITEC 4340 Instructional Unit, Tech. Integration Position Paper

Multimedia Portfolio (Flyers, Personal Logo, Theory Presentation Powerpoint, Infographic, Digital Photography, Image Manipulation, Composite Images, AR Bible App)