Blog Post 4 - Digital Technology

Digital Technology is something that we are all used to in this day and age. Digital photography and digital video are what our society is accustomed to and we do not think twice about them. However, there is a lot to learn about them. Digital photography actually uses light-sensitive film to convert images to slides or paper. It is convenient because it eliminates costs and allows photographs to be instantly viewed and digitally altered on programs such as Photoshop. Digital video is also useful because it allows us to capture moving images rather than just still shots. Something I found interesting is that videos move at a rate of 30 frames per second, while motion pictures move at only 24 frames per second.

Overall, digital photography and digital video are not specifically designed to be used in education. However, there are some uses for them in the classroom. For example, using digital photographs could help create a personalized classroom that includes photographs as decoration. Furthermore, I have personal experience with digital video in the classroom. My second grade teacher filmed each student reading a book in the beginning of the year, at the middle of the year, and at the end of the year. It gave us a chance to track our progress and be encouraged by how far we had come. Digital technology can certainly have a place in the classroom if the teacher implements in creatively.


I chose to find a video on digital photography equipment, because I do not know much about cameras other than how to take a picture. Knowing the different parts of a camera can really help to utilize digital technology in the best way possible, because you know exactly what you're dealing with and the functions of all the parts. I found this video on YouTube, searching for "Digital Photography Help."

Blog Post 3 - Visual Literacy

Visual literacy, like verbal literacy, comes from the idea of taking smaller parts and combining them into a whole in order to form or understand a concept. In verbal literacy, the parts we use are well-known and include the alphabet, grammar, and words. These components add up to a language in which we can use to communicate. As for visual literacy, the parts used include dots, lines, shapes, color, texture, scale, and dimension. These elements may not be as well known to people, but they are the constituents that make up the images we see in every day life. Being visually literate can help us to understand the meaning of images that we come across.

In education, visual literacy is very important. When children are young, they often use pictures as a way to help them understand words, such as seen in picture books. Although they do not realize it, children begin to become visually literate at a young age. It is important for teachers to display pictures around their classrooms and expose their students to images regularly so they will be more competent in their visual skills. Also, as a teacher, it is important to be visually literate; when making presentations, power points, or posters, teachers should understand and know the components of the images they use so they can best convey information to students and give them understanding of the images.





I chose to include two bubble maps- the first shows important elements of visual literacy, because it is important for people to know the components. The second is a map of how visual literacy is useful, because teachers should know how visual literacy can positively affect their students. The first was found on portals.studentnet.edu.au/ and the second was found on learninglive.co.uk

Blog Post 2 - Designing Instructional Media

There are many concepts to consider when designing instructional media. The most important to remember is the acronym "CRAP," which stands for contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity. Contrast is the idea of using a different background color than the color of the text in order to make the text easy to see and read. Repetition means reiterating ideas in different ways to help convey the message of the instructional media. Alignment is important so that students can clearly see all parts of the slide and not miss any key elements. Proximity means making sure that the placement of the text makes sense and follows a well-developed pattern. Also important to consider when designing instructional media is the size of the font (28 or larger is ideal) and the use of graphics and animation. Graphics should be similar to each other and relate to the text; they should not be used simply for decoration. Animations should be used sparingly and should be simple transitions from one slide to the next rather than complex flying and zooming animations which can be distracting.

This is incredibly important in the field of education because it directly affects teaching and learning. Teachers must plan their classes and teach in a way that is most effective. Knowing how to correctly create Power Point slides and other media is a key to helping students learn. I will without a doubt keep these notes and remember these pointers for when I have a classroom and am required to design instructional media. It helps teachers to know how to correctly communicate ideas in a way that students will learn without being distracted.

Instructional Media

I chose this article because it lists several types of instructional media and gives tips and advice on how to effectively use each one.
Found on google, searched for "Designing instructional media PDF." Retrieved from the website "learningforlife.fsu.edu"

Blog Post 1 - Issues in Educational Technology

There are many aspects of schools that educational technology has been able to help with. For example, the No Child Left Behind Act, which provided general guidelines for each state to implement, was supplemented by the use of E-learning. E-learning is a program that provides access to every student and allows for parental involvement. It also helps communication between students and teachers easier and faster. With the Educational Technology Plan, schools were to utilize technology from the office to the classroom; this was to help support student learning. However, the problem with this mode of learning is the digital divide. The digital divide is the gap between students who have access to technology and those who do not. Students without technology are at an extreme disadvantage when E-learning and technology are involved.

This information applies to my intended major, elementary education, by teaching me about the pros and cons of E-learning and technology. Teachers must constantly keep the digital divide in mind and there must be access to technology for the students who do not have access to it at home. Also, it helps to understand the No Child Left Behind Act and the ways that schools are trying to use technology to implement the act. E-learning is an up and coming tool that needs to be learned by future teachers.



I chose this video because it demonstrates the digital divide and what is being done to bridge the gap. Found on Youtube.com, I searched for "digital divide."

Creative Commons Licensing

Here is a video promoting Creative Copyright Licensing: