Published: https://abahmeblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/217-homework-2/

 

That tool that I am choosing to present is WordPress. WordPress is an online application that allows you to create websites and blogs to cater any specific needs. I located WordPress in high school when I was asked to respond to homework assignments on my English teacher’s blog throughout the semester regarding different books we were reading.

 

Summary of Usage:

To use WordPress to its fullest extent, students must have already done research and compiled information to input a clear and concise response. WordPress allows students to create professional or personal websites and blogs for any circumstance. Within WordPress, you can use different design tools and applications to personalize your website or blog any way you choose. You are also capable of adding various forms of media, such as pictures, videos, embedded URL’s, and music. WordPress allows you to explore many variations of speech by being able to use it many ways, such as a personal media outlet, a source for school assignments, and resume builders. In a future classroom, teachers could use WordPress to create both a website and blog in order to post discussions related to in-class topics or assignments, while students could utilize this tool as a means of submitting posts or homework. WordPress has different purposes that allow it to be used for many state standards. Students with a basic knowledge of computer skills can use this tool because it involves beginner typing and navigating skills.

 

Selection Criteria:

I chose WordPress because it is free, although it does contain affordable upgrades, and permits students to put together creative presentations or respond to assignments put together by teachers. WordPress contains visually appealing designs that relate to students in today’s generation. It produces clean-cut and futuristic websites and blogs that differ from traditional media. This tool can be used by both teachers and students. Students can utilize WordPress to create projects for a variety of subjects, whether it be English, Science, History, or Math. WordPress is a very valuable tool because you can use it as a child for school work or as an adult to promote businesses or share with friends. WordPress can be used for any school subject because it is an easy way to project information and teach lessons.

 

ALCOS Connection:

To better exemplify the tool’s capabilities, I chose a specific learning requirement from the Alabama Course of Study.

• Language Arts Grade 4:

“Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.” [RL.4.2]

• This standard connects to me because I was easily able to determine and theme and summarize the text of The Great Gatsby by creating the assignment, as a teacher, and then responding to the blog entry, as a student, with an informational response. I was able to exemplify the simple instructions and capabilities of WordPress while representing how it can be utilized by both students and teachers. WordPress allowed me to put together a creative presentation representing the summary and thematic references within The Great Gatsby.

 

Levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy:

• Applying

  • I chose this level because I believe it best conveys the actions and products created within this assignment. For this project, I wrote a summary and a determined a theme within a story. I applied information and concepts that I already knew from the story and constructed a theme that I thought best fit. I proceeded to illustrate my findings by composing a blog entry on an online journal. This presentation allowed me to employ information I already knew, compile it together, and create a presentation to display these ideas. I was easily able to do this with WordPress because it is a general tool with advanced capabilities that allows you to freely express any topic you choose. In order to complete this assignment, I had to understand the material in order to create the presentation.

 

ISTE Tech Standards:

• Creativity and Innovation

  • I chose this ISTE Tech Standard because I believe it best applied to the creation and application of the presentation I assembled. In order to create this project, I had to apply existing knowledge of the story and generate new ideas in order to come up with a theme. Because of this, I was able to create an original blog, representing both the teacher’s and student’s use, as a means of personal expression. This assignment allowed me to identify certain trends that further applied to the central theme I created. WordPress best fits with this standard because it allows you to innovatively create various forms of projects and products to best express your ideas. WordPress is very easy to use, containing many simple tools to keep presentations original, furthermore making assignments or projects more exciting.

 

Curriculum Connection:

I used WordPress to create a blog from the point of view of both teachers and students. I used it to cater to teachers needs by creating a blog for a classroom discussion and a post regarding homework assignments. From a student’s perspective, I replied to entries labeled as homework assignments. The assignment specified to determine a theme within a specific story and summarize the text. I was able to recall information from previous years and create a presentation about The Great Gatsby. Through this assignment, I was able to include a literature state standard. Specifically, I was able to create a summary and establish a theme within the story. I believe that WordPress is a very reliable tool and is flexible enough to use for almost all state standards because it can be used by both teachers, to create assignments or teach lessons, or by students, to submit assignments or create projects.