Sara's Blog

     My freshman year we had Covid-19 so I had some experience with distance learning. We used platforms like Zoom and Google Classroom. I found Google Classroom effective for organizing assignments and due dates, but Zoom made it harder to focus than in-person classes. I haven’t tried virtual reality for learning, but I’d like to; it seems like a fun way to make lessons more engaging.      Open Educational Resources (OER) are free learning materials anyone can use or share. They include things like textbooks, worksheets, and lesson plans online. I found a website that has OER for teaching history in classrooms. Here is the link to the website I found https://www.oerproject.com/      In Assignment 4, I learned how to use design principles like contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity (CRAP) in PowerPoint. I enjoyed choosing images and animations to make the presentation more interactive, but I didn’t like the time it took to add details...

     In my Web Design assignment, I learned how to organize content, create visual appeal, and use design principles like contrast and alignment. For example, I used contrast by choosing bold colors for headings to help them stand out and alignment to keep text and images neatly lined up, making the page easier to read. I enjoyed making the layout clear and engaging but found balancing all the elements challenging. These web design skills will be helpful in my future teaching career, where I can create classroom websites for students and parents to find resources, assignments, and important updates.      One creative way I could use QR codes in my classroom is by placing them on each student’s desk to link to personalized assignments or extra resources. Students could scan the QR code to get that day’s activity or task without needing paper handouts. This method could also make independent work more engaging and a great way to keep students interested while...