Blog Post #3

I think that Inspiration is going to be a very useful tool for creating lesson plans. I see it being effective for teaching all grade levels, especially in elementary schools where children really benefit from visual learning styles. I can definitely see myself using Inspiration for a science lesson or any topic where I may need to show a map, flow chart or a hierarchy of information. For example, I could create a clear and organized chart that shows the animal kingdom and how it can be broken down into smaller groups. Also, as mentioned in the book, I could teach language arts by showing kids how to make outlines or concept maps.

http://www.perspective.com/nature/animalia/index.html
This website generally follows most of the rules laid out in the chapter. It is very simple and consistent with a pattern of heading, pictures and words. There are only two different style types and the text is not justified which makes it easier to read. The page is limited to a few colors which make it look less overwhelming and chaotic. Also, there are several pictures that serve purpose and prevent the information from being too boring. Most of the rules of text have been applied such as single spacing and using bold and italics. However, some of the sentences are quite long and include a lot of punctuation which can be difficult to follow.

Throughout high school and college I have had a lot of experience with copyright and fair use issues. Any time I have had to write a paper I am constantly reminded the penalties of plagiarism. However, I think that younger kids need to be taught that this is a serious issue as well. In my elementary school classrooms I will teach my children what plagiarism means and why its not okay to use other people's work for your own.

Blog Post #2

As a student, I have mostly just used Microsoft Word to write papers. One aspect I have found particularly useful is the reference tool. It makes it very easy to insert citations and I can be sure my bibliography is set up correctly. I have also had some experience creating graphs and tables on Microsoft Word. I have seen teachers use the program for a variety of things such as making quizzes, tests, and handouts.

When I am a teacher I imagine that I will get a lot of use out of Microsoft word. As an elementary school teacher, I'm sure that I will be writing a lot of letters, permission slips, and other notes for students to take home to their parents. I will also use it to print out quizzes and assignments for my students.

A useful skill that I have acquired since entering this class is creating a mail merge document. I am certain to be very busy as a teacher and this can really save me some time so I can make letters personal without having to type each one separately. Also I did not know how to use the format painter tool before last week. That will also be very useful in saving me time when formatting papers.