App Design Tool Overview
In this class, I have made apps by using MIT App Inventor, Xcode, Hybrid App resources. MIT App Inventor and X-code are basically code writing required software while Hybrid app tools are based on web app. In other word,”Hybrid applications are, at their core, websites packaged into a native wrapper”. Native applications have the best performance, highest security, and best user experience. However, if the desired time to market is less than six months, then hybrid app development could be a better alternative because the app can be built in one source code, can be released across platforms, and development time and effort is considerably less as compared to that of native applications. I have enjoyed all of the application while I am making my apps, however, I like the X-code better. Regarding of user interface, app inventors is able to make everything possible with swift. It is may be the most difficult comparing with Hybrid app resources or MIT app inventor. It requires a lot of knowledge and practice. In contrast of these points, X-code is the most powerful and the app will be very unique.
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Before I started to this course, I was expecting to learn different app design tools. Dr. Nathan is teaching this course and I knew that he will give assignments that will help us gain more information about the coursework.
During the semester, we made apps using MIT App Inventor, X-code, Swift, and Hybrid app tools. I have an unique experience with this course. First half of the semester was easy for me. Making apps with MIT App Inventor was both easy and enjoyable. However, the second half of the semester was a challenging for me. This is because making apps with Swift is challenging since it uses text language and if you miss just a small piece, you can make big mistakes for your project. In any moment while you are working with Swift, you have to be really careful. Also, I like Hybrid app tools but they were expensive to subscribe. After the semester, I can say that I have gained a valuable experience with this course. After learning how to make an app with different tools, it is really fascinating to see your product. Based on my experience throughout the semester, Scratch is the programming tool that I like the best. This is because the tool is very common. In my school, we use Google CS First which requires Scratch to complete projects including Google Logo making, High Seas Activity, and Gumball’s Coding Adventure. Also, Scratch has enough helpful resources for programmers which helps them to learn the program easily, create new projects and share them with one another. The most important aspect of the program is using various subjects such as art, history, science, and math. This characteristic lead programmers to creative thinking. Another feature of the program is creating visual lessons by using animations. This is important for me because it helps students to learn difficult subjects. The last point I would like to mention is that we use Scratch for six weeks in our course. Using the tool for six projects helps me to learn it with all details. For example, one can make advance projects with Scratch. Also, Scratch is block based programming toll which is easier than text based one. Using block based programming tools such as Scratch reduces to make mistakes, they also have a pallet of commands to choose from, making memorizing commands unneeded, and therefore easy for beginners to start coding. The only negative point is that it might be slow, so that you might need to be patient to use the program.
Before I started to this course, I was expecting to learn several programming tools and languages. First of all, when I saw the syllabus, I was very amazed to learn the tools that have been mentioned in it because I am a Gifted and Talented Education teacher so that I thought that I will learn really useful tools for my students.
During the semester, Dr. Nathan gave several assignments to learn various programming languages including Hopscotch, Tynker, Scratch, Game Salad, and Turtle Academy. Making projects in these tools help me to widen my perspective to teaching programming to students. With each assignment, I have a chance to see different tools with different details beside how to teach programming and coding to students. Also, in my school, we use Scratch for our students. Learning Scratch in my coursework and using it for my own students was a unique experience for me. This is because it was a rare opportunity for me to apply what I have learnt from the course to the my real school life. After the course, I am very pleased to cover different programming tools and how to teach them to students. This course is not only one of my MA courses since I have learnt different programming tools and coding for my students. So that the coursework has helped me to get an experience for my profession which I feel lucky for it. How people find more than they expect? I started my master program in August 2016. I was planning to take one course in each semester because I was feeling lazy but now I will be graduating on time in two years. This is how I was expecting and found more in educational technology program. Throughout the courses, my professors taught me beyond my expectation.
I was expecting to learn a couple of software or program and finish this semester. First of all, when I saw the syllabus, I said, this course will be very good. I tried to learn Photoshop by myself when I was in university however, I was lazy enough to watch the tutorials. During this course, Dr. Nathan gave a few assignments to replicate the tutorials so I put stop to my laziness. After this course done, I have learned that learning technology will never end. Also, Adobe applications/programs are an endless adventure. You can find many tutorials to learn how to do things in Photoshop, Illustrator, Animate, Flash etc. Moreover, I enjoyed learning the Pixlr and GIMP. As I mentioned in the introduction, my understanding of technology has changed when I start this master program with Dr. Dogan. Every and each professor have taught the courses beyond my expectation and helped me to better understand the technology in education. I have learned four amazing software in this class. I have learned Audacity, WeVideo, Camtasia, and Lightwork throughout this semester. I know how to edit videos, add effects, annotations, etc. My best practice is adding one picture or video into main video or picture, called picture in picture. It means a lot to me because I am teaching to my young scholar lower level of what I have learned. I was so excited while I finish Camtasia and Lightwork projects because these two are way professional than other software. The only thing that I don't like is the watermark if I use the free version.
Audacity is an audio editing program which is very easy to record voice and edit. You need to download to your computer and it is free. WeVideo is cloud program that you don't have to download it. The free account gives 5 minutes video publishing and limited storage. Camtasia is super professional software and you can download it, however, it is very expensive and when you need to update it to the newer version, you will have to pay again. I liked the Lightworks video editing program as well but adding text is very difficult in that. I was hoping to learn some new programs to make or edit videos. I used to use movie maker and WeVideo for making videos. I was expecting to learn YouTube video editing but YouTube has stopped giving editing feature. Since YouTube editing has gone, we had extra weeks with WeVideo. Dr. Nathan is very nice and understanding. He gave enough time for each assignment and extra weeks for the first nine weeks due to the hurricane happened in Houston. He asked to replicate tutorials for some projects and he demonstrated how to complete the projects in the following week. It was little awkward to see demonstration after submitting the assignment, however, it is very helpful in real life because I have noticed that I can learn whatever I want by watching YouTube tutorials. This way I have also gained the research skills. My understanding of video in education has changed when I start this master program already. Last year, Dr. Dogan has an influence on this change. I never forget how he was teaching. During this course, I have mastered my technology skills with video editing and digital graphics and animation. These video applications can help educators to create unforgettable classroom environment. Admins can have useful videos to show parents how to use academic tools. Teachers can have tutorials and online assignments. I appreciate my wife for encouraging me to start this master program and supporting me when I have a hard time. I thank my professors for teaching me these awesome technology programs. I was expecting to improve my knowledge regarding curriculum design and to learn more about instructional strategies. I knew how Dr. Dogan is teaching since last semester, I was comfortable that I will enjoy taking this course. His presentations were very knowledgeable and his assignments were meaningful and related with content and chapter. The Bloom’s Taxonomy, lesson plan, observation, demonstration were the milestone projects during this semester. The discovery learning discussion was my favorite one.
I have learned a lot from this course. I believe this course can be always helpful for who wants to gain more skills regarding curriculum and instruction. The chapters that we have studied in this course helped me to improve my knowledge and my understanding of curriculum. I want to thank Dr. Dogan for this course for us. Every other course, every other week, he influence on students learning. His teaching method is really effective and for me, it was outstanding.
All students can be given the freedom needed to make discovery and inquiry learning successful. These two models create more effective teaching methods. I believe that giving freedom to students increases motivation to the lessons and makes learning more effective for them. Also, both discovery and inquiry learnings requires student’s attention to the subject matter. If freedom can be given to all students, students will have better learning process and information retains longer for them. With these two models, students are actively involved in learning process, which is not always taken place in traditional learning. However, sometimes it is hard to involve in all students in one class with freedom. In one class, there can be special needs students or ESL students. It might be the concern that if all students can be given the freedom, it is hard to expect them to gain information in a limited time. Sometimes, expecting students to explore problem and arrive a solution requires days or weeks. This led us to another concern; curricular mandataries. States require to cover certain content in a certain time and it creates boundaries for giving freedom to all students. Because of this, teacher-centered learning takes place instead of heuristic methods which are more effective ways for learning. If these concerns are overcome, discovery and inquiry learning would be more successful. Moore, K. D. (2015). Effective instructional strategies: from theory to practice. Los Angeles: Sage Publications. Before this course started, I was expecting to improve my technology skills and to learn new tools to use in education. we have started very well since Dr. Dogan explains every detail about the course in the webinars. We started with the easy tools such as Google form and Google slide. Then, the course went deep technology outlets and we started to learn very useful technology tools for education. To me, it was challenging to write research assignments because this is my first graduate course in my graduate program. But, I get used to doing these assignments as weeks passed.
I have learned a lot from this course. I believe that this course as an entry class for a graduate course is very important for educators since we are moving forward more technological life. Some tools that we have learned are very useful for me including Weebly and Padlet. These tools help me to improve my knowledge and my understanding of technology. I would like to thank Dr. Dogan for teaching this course for us. Every other week, he provided live seminars for us to learn and understand the course material. His teaching method was really effective and for me, it was an eye-opening. Also, he provides informative and instructive materials for us. |
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May 2018
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