Blog Journal 8

• After working on the Web Design assignment, I have acquired many skills that will allow me to make my actual teacher's website in the future including using Weebly, saving and using images, creating a creative commons license, and more. The main design principles I used when designing my website was the CRAP design principle. For example, I ensured there was a good contrast in the letter and background colors, making all text legible. I also used repetition, maintaining the same font throughout, as well as ensuring everything was aligned. I enjoyed making my own website, however the Weebly site was a bit finicky and sometimes didn't save some of my work or would prevent me from making the banner as big as I had wanted. I can use this website design as a teacher in my future to keep parents and students updated and on track with easy to access resources and assignments or announcements. 
• My website: 
  

• One creative way to use QR codes in the classroom is by connecting them to ClassDojo to make parent communication and student recognition more interactive. For example, I could create a QR code that links directly to our ClassDojo class page or to individual student portfolios. Parents could scan the code at open house events or during conferences to instantly access their child’s progress, behavior reports, and classroom updates. I could also place a QR codes in the classroom, allowing students to easily access our ClassDojo page to easily monitor their progress. This makes sharing achievements more personal and accessible while encouraging consistent parent involvement. Using QR codes this way connects classroom learning and home communication, helping families stay engaged in a simple and tech-friendly way.
• Case Study: The Ethical Use of Technology for Teacher Productivity
• Ms. Johnson, a fifth-grade teacher, uses several digital tools to stay organized and improve her teaching efficiency. She relies on Google Classroom for assignments, ClassDojo for communication with families, and an AI-based grading app to save time on short-answer assessments. While these tools help her manage her workload, she begins to face ethical challenges regarding data privacy and professional boundaries. For instance, the AI grading tool stores student responses on an external server, raising concerns about how student data is being used and who has access to it. Additionally, Ms. Johnson sometimes sends parent updates through ClassDojo after school hours, which has led to messages coming in late at night and blurring her personal and professional boundaries. 
• To address the case, I would first ensure that all technology tools used in the classroom comply with district policies and student privacy laws. I would replace or adjust any apps that store sensitive student data on unsecured platforms and communicate with parents about how their child’s information is protected. I would also set specific “office hours” for digital communication through ClassDojo to maintain professional boundaries while still being available for important updates. This is an ethical solution because it prioritizes student and family privacy and models responsible digital use. By being transparent about technology use and setting clear guidelines, I would promote trust, safety, and accountability in the classroom.

Teacher Professional Development resource

https://tinyurl.com/3tdh8cdz this link is for a website which includes resources from the National Teacher Association to help guide teacher professional growth and development. 

Blog Journal 7

• When I explored the Naples Park Elementary School website, I noticed that it provides a welcoming and organized layout for families to learn about the school and its classrooms. The site includes sections like “Our School,” “Parents,” and “Staff,” which link to pages where you can find teacher names, grade levels, and email contacts. Some teachers have class pages that introduce their subjects or grade, share weekly newsletters, or post reminders for upcoming events. The website also highlights school-wide updates, lunch menus, and important resources like the student handbook. However, more detailed classroom materials, such as assignments or student grades, are likely kept private and accessible only through secure logins for students and parents. Overall, the site serves as a helpful way for families to stay informed and connected to what’s happening at the school.

• In my future classroom, I envision using technology to make my work more efficient and to help students stay engaged and organized. I plan to maintain a class website where families can easily find updates, resources, information about me and the class, and important announcements. I will also create monthly newsletters using Microsoft Word and Canva to share what students are learning and to highlight upcoming events. For classroom collaboration, I want to use Padlet because it allows students to post their ideas or reflections in a shared space, encouraging participation from everyone. I’ll also use Diigo because it helps students annotate passages and share their thoughts while reading online texts. These tools will help me stay organized, communicate clearly with families, and make learning more interactive and accessible for my students.

• While working on Assignment 2: Critical Evaluation, using Canvas group, I noticed a few new helpful digital resources. As for lesson planning, AI can effectively help teachers by offering ideas to improve a pre-made lesson plan, or requesting ideas for engaging in-class activities to add to the lesson plan. Though, AI did a decent job at creating an organized lesson plan, a human making it would allow their expertise to effectively time out the class, and include the teaching styles that seem to work best to accommodate all students in that specific class. Through this assignment, I learned that a good lesson plan includes the lesson objectives, and a timed out lesson from start to finish, allowing enough time for interactive activities related to the lesson as well as an entrance and exit ticket or review. Evaluating the AI-generated lesson plan made me realize what I should include in my lesson plans, ensuring to make it cohesive and apply to all student's learning abilities. Overall, I enjoyed using the Canvas group tool to collaborate on this assignment, though it became difficult if multiple group members were editing the same page at the same time. 

Blog Journal 6

• The Florida standard SC.3.CC.2.1 is about teaching students how to use technology to communicate safely and responsibly online. This includes things like sending emails, texting, uploading pictures, and filling out online surveys while also learning good online manners, or “Netiquette.” In simple terms, this standard helps students understand how to talk and share online the right way. I feel ready to teach this standard because I already use these tools every day. For example, I can include using online surveys like google forms in my classes, and teach them how to write a proper email. 
• When I looked at the CPALMS Educator Toolkit, I found a 3rd grade science lesson that used technology for students to research and share what they learned. The activity had students use the Internet to find facts and then make a digital slideshow to show their results. I think this kind of resource is great because it combines learning with creativity. Students get to practice using technology in a safe and fun way while also learning the lesson topic. I could use something like this in my classroom to help students feel confident using technology resources for schoolwork.
• It’s important for teachers to be good at searching the Internet because it helps us find the best information for our lessons quickly. I use Google often, but I’ve learned that using special search tools makes it easier to find exactly what I need. For example, I can use refine search tools to search for exact phrases. The skill I’ll use most is Google’s advanced search to narrow results to what fits my class. I also like using reverse image search to check where pictures come from before using them in projects or lessons. 

Blog Journal 5

•  So far with blogging, I have become more accommodated with the website and have become more comfortable with posting a blog. I like creating the blog and customizing the layout of my blog to add extra details. However, I am still uneasy about others being able to see my post, but I will learn to get used to that. During this Blogging process, I have learned how to use a blogging website to post my own blogs as well as view other's blogs and comment on them. This will be helpful in the future, when I am a teacher as I will be able to get ideas and advice from other teacher's blogs. 
•  As I first explored the topic of artificial intelligence in eduction, I initially thought that AI would bring up issues in the classroom with things like misinformation or unethical usage. However, after learning more about it, I now understand the many helpful uses of AI in a K-12 setting. You can use it ethically to get ideas for a more engaging activity for your lesson plan. You can also use it to generate fun images to make your classroom more engaging. When used correctly, AI can be an extremely useful digital tool in education. 
•  It was fairly simple using Generative AI for the Participation Portfolio Item: Generative AI. I tried to use it to create a sample lesson plan for me for a 2nd grade science lesson on the states of matter. I made sure to include as much details in the first prompt to make it as close to what I was expecting. I think it worked really well as it created a simple, organized, and easy to read lesson plan. Although, I did ask for it to add the worksheets for the activities it mentioned in the lesson plan as well. The worksheets could be more fun and engaging but other than that, it worked well. Next, time I would specify all these things in the beginning and most likely form the lesson plan myself, but use AI to generate some ideas to improve my lesson plan. 
•  In my teaching practice, I would most likely use Generative AI for generating interactive images for my lessons to help make them more engaging. I would also use it to give me ideas for fun activities or ways to improve my lesson plans or classroom in general. I wouldn't rely too heavy on it though, as I understand it can be unreliable and unethical at an extent. To address these ethical concerns, I would cite the AI source of any photos or pages I generate from AI and use in my classroom. 

Learning Meme