Self-learning TLC project

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Awareness:

for this tool, I became aware of it from my own previous knowledge and the realization that it could be useful to teach students about technology in an art class.

1)How did you become aware of a need that you wanted to meet?

When I was thinking for a subject to teach for this assignment, I thought of what types of presentations I've seen myself as a student, and one that spoke out to me was the presentation teachers give students before introducing a bigger project to class that requires safety precaution. In an art class this would be used to teach students about using a pottery wheel, or a printing press, or some other piece of equipment students wouldn't know how to use safely.

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2)How did you become aware that technology could be used to meet that need?

I though the pottery wheel would help students learn about structures in clay in a different way that hand molding it. Plus, teaching students about a new piece of equipment teaches them how to follow safety instructions, patience, and they'll have something they created afterwards that they can bring home as an achievement of their hard work.

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Exploration and filtration:

I examined several different options to teach my students how to work with a pottery wheel. I looked into some video presentations, some discussion prompts, and other websites before choosing Prezi to teach students about this equipment.

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1) What process did you use to explore the variety of technology tools able to meet your need?

When researching the pottery wheel, I discovered that not only do you need a wheel itself, but you also need all of the other materials used to actually create something. In my lesson plan I listed a list of materials that I would likely have in the classroom for the students to locate and use with the pottery. For example, they would need sponges and rags to form their clay and they would also need sculpting tools to add designs to their pots later.

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2)What process did you use filter out a choice of tool from the many available?

One thing I realized wouldn't be necessary for this project in a classroom that some professional pottery artists may have been some of the sculpting tools and the more high-quality materials that wouldn't be found in a classroom. I filtered them out of the projects by sort of using a process of elimination. I realized that I would want to use minimal materials for this project for the reasons that I would have a lot of students and these materials need supervision and can be expensive. Plus, I realized that this project had to simple enough to explain and do over a day or two.

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3) Why did you choose to use the tool you selected?

I chose the tools I did because it is just enough for the students to create a product that could be similar to each other, and I would provide a few object that would allow them to have creative freedom and make their projects their own.

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Learning:

After creating my presentation, I feel comfortable using Prezi now, and in my lesson, I made sure my students were comfortable using the machinery before they proceeded to craft their final project.

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1) What process did you use to learn the tool?

I used a step-by-step instructional presentation that would show them around 3-4 bigger steps that would help them learn efficiently. These steps included "prepping the wheel", "throwing the clay", "molding the clay", and "personalizing your creation". 

2) What resources did you use or consult? 

I consulted a few websites that shared similar instructions on basic clay molding techniques. I have never used a pottery wheel before, so I did some research and watched a few videos too from professionals who had platforms on YouTube where they shared some helpful insight.

3) What was "missing" from the process or resources that might have helped you learn better or more quickly?

One thing missing from my presentation is direct step by step photos that would show students exactly what the progress wold looks like. I did include some that I found on the internet, but as a teacher I would want to take pictures myself so the visuals would match my presentation better.

4) Did you ever consider going back to the Filtration process to select another tool?

I did consider that hand molding clay is a more realistic project to do in a classroom especially depending on the age of my students, but I chose to talk about the wheel because it is more like an actual tool or piece of equipment.

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Professional and Personal Application:

I explored several ways I could use Prezi in the future as well as different applications for the presentation I created

1) Once you learned the tool, how did you apply it in your professional life (that is, in what specific ways is the tool useful to you as a teacher)?

After using Prezi for the first time, I could totally see myself using it again for presentations. It is similar to PowerPoint yet the visuals in Prezi are much more attention grabbing and I like the way it is organized on the page as a big picture with subtopics and details.
2) Using a tool is great in your professional life but finding a tool that works in your personal life is also important! How did/could you use the tool in your personal life?

In my personal life I could see myself looking at other teacher's Prezi presentations to learn new skill or topic myself. I could learn this new information or find something interesting I could later teach in my classroom.

Sharing and Reflection:

I found that the reflection portion in my presentation would be helpful to make the fun activity a learning experience as well. I also see it being easy to create on Prezi for future lessons as well.

1) What makes this tool something you would share with other teachers? What "cautions" might accompany your recommendation? How did you share what you learned with someone else, either a product, knowledge, or both?

I would share this with other teachers because they could easily edit it or get ideas for their own classroom. I might caution other people that my presentations may not fit their teaching style or their class in the same way my presentation. I would likely make my presentation to better match my students and deliver information in a way I know they would all understand. I could share what I learned with someone else easily by sending them my Prezi or simply telling them about information I learned from seeing someone else's presentations.

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2) What is the tool missing? What do you wish the tool could do but either doesn't or is outside your capacity to learn?

I do wish Prezi had more room to add different designs or images. I found the slide themself to be sort of small, but I would have to play around with the website more to see its capabilities.

3) How did the TLC aid in your learning this time? 

It helped me learn how to use Prezi and how I would be able to teach my students how to use a new tool. I followed every step of the cycle to structure my lesson so that my student would be getting the most out of class. I found it really helpful to teach them about the pottery wheel in a way they would enjoy, and they would be able to reflect and understand what they learned about.

4) How might you approach the TLC process differently the next time? 

Next time I may choose something that my students could use on a day-to-day basis. I could spend a day showing them what tools are always available to them in class and how to use them properly. For example, in an art class I could show them what lines paint brushed or pencils would create and when they might like to use them. I could them bring up the presentation or have it available throughout the year so they would always have that resource.