My Digital Notebook

 Over the course of the semester, my Personal Learning Network (PLN) has grown in meaningful and intentional ways. At the start, my PLN was mostly limited to classmates, professors, and a few social media accounts I followed for inspiration. Now, it includes a much wider range of people such as elementary educators, professional teaching communities, and content creators who share strategies and resources. The spaces I use have also expanded—from mainly Instagram and Canvas to Pinterest boards, teacher Facebook groups, and websites focused on lesson ideas. The tools within my PLN have evolved as well; where I once relied mostly on basic apps, I now regularly use Canva, Padlet, and Google Drive to stay organized and connected. As a future elementary school teacher, I see myself using data collection tools like Google Forms or Qualtrics to help guide my instruction. I could use surveys to learn how students feel about a reading unit, whether they understand a math concept, or what a...

Distance Learning in K–12 Education My main experience with distance learning happened during the COVID-19 pandemic when school shifted completely online. I used tools like Zoom, Google Classroom, and Nearpod to attend classes, turn in assignments, and work on group projects. Zoom made it easier to connect with my teachers and classmates, but it was definitely harder to stay focused for long periods behind a screen. One technology I didn’t get to try but would like to experience is Edpuzzle because it makes learning videos more interactive by adding questions and activities. I think that kind of engagement would have helped me stay more motivated during online learning. Open Educational Resources (OER) Open Educational Resources, or OER, are free materials that teachers and students can use and adapt for learning without worrying about copyright or cost. These resources include things like online textbooks, videos, lesson plans, and even full courses that anyone can access. I found a...

 From this Web Design assignment , I learned several new skills that helped me think like both a teacher and a designer. I developed a deeper understanding of how to apply design principles —specifically contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity (CRAP) —to make a website that is easy to navigate and visually appealing for parents and students. For example, I used contrast by pairing dark headings with soft background colors so the text stood out. Repetition came through in my consistent use of fonts and button styles across each page. I kept alignment clean by centering the main header and aligning all text blocks to the same grid so the eye could flow naturally. Finally, I used proximity to group related information together, like “Class Announcements” next to the “Assignments” section, so parents could easily find updates. I also learned to focus on accessibility , such as adding alt text to images and using descriptive hyperlinks like “Download Classroom Rules” instead...