Blog Post 7

Class Page Example: https://ifda.sbschools.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=199073&pageId=795134

A class page I was able to find online is from a random elementary school called Indian Fields Elementary School, which is located in Dayton, New Jersey. I chose the third-grade class page to take a look at. There is not much on the page besides a small clip-art graphic of a book, the contact list for each third-grade teacher, a brief description of the third-grade curriculum, and a link to a much more detailed curriculum pdf document. While I understand the privacy concerns that come with publicly providing class information online, I do think the page could be a bit more specific. The curriculum description on the page is very brief and general, so I think one way to make the page a bit more engaging would be to provide specific examples of in-class activities that are implemented in the curriculum. This would give parents a better understanding of what kinds of things their students will do in third grade.

Teacher Productivity & Technology

I think there are technology tools that definitely have the potential to help me accomplish my professional responsibilities more efficiently and effectively. If I were to become a teacher, I would absolutely utilize interactive and engaging classroom management and student collaboration technology. These tools would not only enhance my instruction and the classroom climate but also help me become more productive as an educator. Classroom management tools such as Canvas, Google Classroom, and ClassDojo seem to be great tools for creating a more streamlined and organized classroom by providing the ability to collect and grade assignments online. Collaborative, community-building tools such as Flipboard and Flipgrid also seem to be great ways to connect students with each other and the world around them.

Assignment 2 Reflection

Assignment 2 was a great way to become more acquainted with utilizing Canvas not as a student but as an “instructor”. I have never designed a Canvas page before, so this assignment was a great way to explore the different design and layout functions that Canvas has to offer. I like that the Canvas group tool allows student groups to collaboratively and simultaneously work on designing and laying out a group page. This aligns with my preference for the Google Suite programs over Microsoft’s because both Canvas and Google Suie allow for collaborative and simultaneous group work to be completed. However, I do wish that multiple people could work on the same page at the same time instead of having to wait until the other is finished. Overall, I did like the Canvas group tool and I liked being able to learn more about Canvas page design and layout.