Posts
Week 8
Computational Thinking (CT)... Wow.We got a brief overview in week 2, but I didn't fully understand the concept until this week. Ultimately, CT breaks down a problem. According to Google, it uses pattern recognition to identify similarities and differences. According to Code, binary images and algorithms are categorized under CT.
While googling a bit more about CT, I ran into this poster posted by Jo Culf. It seems to sum up CT in a way that's fairly easy to understand.
According to Code, all information can be coded in binary numbers. It's just a matter of figuring out how. The example that was shown in one of Code's videos was an example of a panda image. It was taken from a photo and was converted into a black and white grid image and ultimately converted to 0's and 1's. In class, our binary number assignment in week 2 was writing our favorite color using the binary alphabet. This week, we had to figure out everyone's favorite colors based off of the binary numbers written and answer a couple questions. Towards the end, I started to recognize some letters and it was a lot faster to decipher.
Another thing I learned this week was that algorithms are used in every day life. We use algorithms to break down larger/complicated topics to smaller and simpler steps. An example provided by Code's was a recipe. But another algorithm we use on a daily basis these days is the navigation system. It is built to breakdown the route in a step-by-step process.
This week we took an image of a dog and wrote an algorithm for it. After writing out the algorithm, I tested it on my dad, and he was able to follow it perfectly.
Week 7
I think my all time favorite website to be on these days is Canva. I used it for the past week and a half to create my lesson plan, and it was the easiest program to navigate and adapt to. I actually went ahead and signed up for Piktochart and Easel.ly as well but ended up deactivating my account about an hour after playing around with each. The later two programs were unrealistic for me and most of the options weren't what I was looking for. The programs were so busy and templates were so difficult to work with. I really wish there are more all-inclusive programs like Canva out.
Also, this week we reviewed another blogging platform called Wordpress. I remember using Wordpress when I initially attempted blogging. At the time, it was fairly simple and easy to navigate. I still like Google's Blogger a little better at this point because it's so user friendly.
I'm actually really happy with how my lesson plan turned out! Now, to get started on week 10's presentation...
Week 6
As each week passes, I find myself feeling like a child walking into a candy store for the first time. Each week, EDIT presents something new, or a new way to use the technology I've been using for so long. I always find myself having a constant sense of excitement. I feel like I say something along these line every week, but it's only the truth.
This week, we were taught how to build a Google Site. I only noticed the Google Site recently; I'm not 100% if it came with some of the updates recently? During this week's weekly video, I multi-tasked and built my own Google site: Gloria's Google Site. I think it turned out great! Google has come such a long way, and I can't wait to see what different programs it will launch in the future.
Digital Images. How are people so creative? I am truly jealous of all the digital images that people have created. I think my favorite was the word clouds. It looks very clean and creative. For the digital image assignment due this week, I decided to use some key words linked to my lesson plan like: "global," "beauty," and "makeup." Surround those main terms are different makeup products and tools. I did add some beauty company names, but now that I think about it, I wonder if this even allowed for copyright reasons.
I've been working on lesson plan here and there all week and I'm really excited with the progress. Really hoping to finish it within the next couple of days.