Chapter 8 Reflection

As discussed in past blogs, learning about different technologies can be tremendously beneficial as a teacher and as a student. As a teacher learning and teaching these different technologies will allow you to grow closer with your students and share a portion of today's world though different technologies. It is important for students to learn these various technologies because it will only aid them in further development of the future technologies and will help them open up and connect with the classroom community and teacher. In this blog we are going to discuss drawing design ideas with computer design software, testing designs and building mental models with simulation software, developing programming skills while designing in the media arts, and designing music with composition software.

When reading about drawing design ideas with computer aided design software I could not stop thinking about when I was in one of my physics classes designing a mousetrap car for the first time. I remember having to sit down and draw these intricate designs involving top, side, bottom, front, and back end views. It was tedious work that I always tried to put off until a later point in time. I always then realized how much more work it was going to be for me - the perfectionist. I wish I had known about some of these computer based design software I could have used to safe me time and a headache. Every feature can be included in this virtual drawing table to include depth, shape, height, length, color, and surface texture. I can see myself using this in my classroom as a tool for students to be able to create a visual for word problems. And depending on what grade I am teaching I can see my classroom using it as a aid in something similar to what I used it for when I was in school - making and creating box cars, mousetrap cars, a ballooton aircraft, etc. I like the books example of building a house of similar feature and having a virtual tour using the CAD design software.

Simulation software can help teachers and students visualize how a structure will be used and to make sure all of the calculations are correct. These simulations can help students visualize mental picture of how something will work. I can see myself using this type of software similar to how it was used in the book. If my class were building something like a catapult I would want them to be able to help zero in on the distance it would travel before it hit the ground. I would not want the catapult to be launched without knowing how far or how long and high it would be traveling in the air for practical and safety issues. With a simulation students and teachers can visualize what will happen before the class actually physically do the experiment.

Developing programming skills while designing in the media arts isa great way to get students to use their minds. With working with such programs students will use their creativity and reflect on their programs. Microworlds are a great example of students utilizing programming skills. Another program that all of us have begun to get involved with is SCRATCH. I have had a mix of interactions with Scratch. At first I was completely clueless. However, I have watch a lot of tutorials online and now have a decent grasp on the program. I can see how this will benefit my future classroom. As I have been learning how to use Scratch, I have been creating another one with one of the kids I help home school and babysit on weekdays. The boy is nine years old and really enjoys it. Before we began I told him we were going to make our own game. He instantly though of an elaborate game and once we began to make one he said "this is a lot harder than I anticipated." I told him I thought the same thing. Scratch has proven to be a great tool to use because you can integrate it into the classroom easily and it is a sure way to engage students.

Designing music with composition software is my favorite section in this chapter. I have had a lot of experience with this myself. I play the trombone nd have since I was 12. After I had relatively mastered the trombone and baritone through my music programs in middle and high school I started to compose music form my high school marching band. Being one of the leaders in the band, my peers were excited to try and play my music. I ended up composing the theme song to Family Guy, and a few pop songs during the time. Overall, I had to adjust some of the parts for different instruments because I might have been in the wrong key or just had the rhythm slightly off, but composing my own music with free online software was an amazing experience. It helped me think outside the box from what I knew about my own instrument and to think as if I was in others shoes and it really tested some of my math skills and different combination's of patterns and how they fit together. The book focuses on music composition that is not as complex. Music that can be utilized in Scratch, and podcasts mainly.