Week 2- Greece Travel Brochure and E-Portfolio

MICROSOFT PUBLISHER

In this week’s lecture and workshop we learned how to use Microsoft Publisher and about E-Portfolios and I think both these will and can be useful both in the personal front and in the classroom front. In the workshop we were asked to create a brochure about somewhere you traveled in the world in the past using Microsoft Publisher. Automatically, Greece came to my mind. This country has stuck with me ever since I stepped foot on it in the Summer 2007. My friend Hilary and I

went there, along with Spain, Italy and England, BUT Greece and the Greek Islands http://www.lonelyplanet.com/greece/travel-tips-and-articles/1010 were hands down our favorite. The food, the people, the beaches, the heat, the culture, the history, I just became so enchanted with the whole country that I just can’t wait to go back.


In the workshop I wanted to show why Greece was so luring and I think I did so though my travel brochure. Here is a travel video on Greece that I used in my travels. Just in case you want see what it is all about yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECSuwq2fKgU.  

This was the first time I used Microsoft Publisher and I thought that once the instructions were properly explained, maneuvering through the database became quite straightforward. Now, I am sure I only got introduced to one section of the program but, regardless, the part I was using became easier and easier to navigate and play around with over the course of the workshop. I completed my brochure by being creative, cutting relevant pictures from different websites and using quotes from the lonely planet http://www.lonelyplanet.com/greece.

I found this activity to be very fascinating because everyone had a different idea, concept and design in mind. It was quite interesting to see who chose what country and why they were passionate about it. By enticing interest about something everyone is interested in, it will create an enthusiastic and exciting classroom environment. The program is straightforward and quite easy to navigate around so it can easily be used in a primary classroom as well.
I think it could be applied to a humanities lesson, using the same lesson structure as we did in our workshop. It can also be applied in an English or math lesson about a book or an advertisement for a store. The student will obviously get really excited and will want to speak about what they did so it also can be used for oral presentations. Overall, I thought it was a great program and I look forward to using it again.

P.S.: Just for fun here are some Trivia Questions...Let's see how knowledgeable you are in Greek History, Mythology, Geography or Culture?

http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/humanities/mythology__legends/greek_myth.html

Write your scores and what game you played in the comment box below...




E-PORTFOLIO

I thought the E-Portfolio to be a little more complex than Microsoft Publisher. I didn’t quite understand how to utilize it. It seemed much more intricate and complex to me. I need much more practice with the program because I know it can and will be beneficial to be personally and professionally. The E-Portfolio can be used in possible teaching job interviews. It is a reflection of who you are, why you want the job, your qualifications, what you have done, and whom you know. It is allowing you to reflect on who you are and what your purpose you have and want. It also illustrates to the interviewers that you are in touch with yourself and with the evolving technological times.

I think this program and document is fundamental for teachers, however, it can also be utilized in class. Students can make profiles of themselves, their work, their progression, assessment, and interests whereby the parents can see how they are developing and where they need improvement. It is clear, that both Microsoft Publisher and E-Portfolios are current and relatable to the teacher, the students and the community.

What do you think this image represents??? Write your comments below in the comment box?!










Until next week...

LIVE~LAUGH~LOVE

So through these images you can kind of tell what I am into and what I love to do in my life for fun. What I am passionate about. I try to be really active and as worldly as I know how to be.

I have been lucky enough to have travelled quite a bit in my life and I am so thankful for that. I have seen so many places and have learned so much during my experiences and my travels. I think becoming a teacher and sharing this knowledge with my students is going to be so exciting and so rewarding.

Surprisingly, this is my first blog--I always saw my friends getting involved in the blogging world to share their wonderful travels in detail with their friends and family and I always wished I had done that too. I wish I had done this for two reasons, one because you remember and can refer back to what you have done and two because you can communicate your thoughts and experiences with everyone connected to the internet. The reason why I did not start it was because I never knew how to do it, how to start it.

I am now thankful that I am in this class because it will finally teach me the things I have wanted to do for some while, something that I will be able to carry throughout my life in my travels and also carry it into my classroom. It will be so beneficial for my students to know and become familiar with this information. They can communicate with people next door or even 4000 km away. The possibilities are endless and I want to carry this philosophy in my classroom.

I look forward to learning more regarding this.

Until next time!!