Running head: FINAL REFLECTION 1

Final Reflection Paper

Nallely E. Nava Vallejo

Arizona State University – EDT180

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Introduction

Personal growth is dependent of you and only you. You decide whether you to grow as a

positive or negative person in life. This semester I have grown into a more positive and

intellectual person. Through my technology class I’ve been able to gain knowledge and

understanding of a variety of concepts.

Final Reflection

In this course I have written four reflections, with each I have noticed that they have very

similar structures and explanations. In the beginning of each reflection I write what it means to

revise a paper and how it benefits me as well as other authors. I also include how reflections

ultimately make a paper better; they give an author insight into what they need to fix as well as

they have done that makes their work great as is. After introducing and explaining the benefits of

reflections, I describe the different suggestions that my peers have given me about my work;

these suggestions are always unique, they revolve around the body of work I have done for that

assignment. For example, for my communication project my peers disclosed different ways that I

could fix the template for the podcast I was creating; on the other hand, for my construction

project I was given more specific details that my peers believed would make my game more

thrilling for the players. Although these projects were very different, the revision process is

always the same for each.

This course has had many challenges throughout the semester, but I believe that I

overcame each of them and gained more knowledge because of it. The most challenging obstacle

that I’ve encountered would be my first module project. It was the most challenging because I

did not have any experience with any form of technology; also, because I had never done a big

project requiring me to go out and use different technologies first-hand. I was able to overcome
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this challenge by first, talking to my peers and asking my professor for more clear instructions.

By talking to my peers, we were able to better understand what we thought was being asked of

us, then confirming this with the professor made the project easier. In the end, when I finally

submitted my final project I felt at peace; I had put all my hard work and dedication into it, and I

ended up with a perfect score. This was a great first accomplishment for me in this class.

To be completely honest, when I first began this course, I had no idea what it was and

why it was a requirement for the teacher’s college. But, in the end I feel that without this class I

would not have the same confidence nor knowledge of the concepts of technology. I began the

course with no knowledge other than the basics, Google, Microsoft, and YouTube. Now, I feel

that I know so many different tools that these applications offer. I was able to create a podcast, an

application, I posted my first YouTube video, and I created my own website. Now, when I’m

completing a project or assignment, I feel that I have more tools and resources to ensure that my

submission is the best it can be.

If I compare and contrast the first module project to the last module project, I would say

that I am more content and prouder of my first project. I would say this because I put the most

work and dedication into this project; because it was my first one and I was lost, I felt that it

needed to be perfect when I turned it in. They are similar because they both revolve around the

same theme. In my first module project I explained the different forms of technology that would

benefit teachers in their classrooms. Similar to my final module project where I briefly explained

the different technologies I would want in my own classroom and how they would make my life

easier. On the other hand, they were very parallel to each other as well. My first module project

required a more rigorous template with a variety of explanations, while my last module project

required a more simple but thought-provoking template. I feel that each module became easier
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for me as time went by because I was slowly growing accustomed to the different forms of

technology I was learning about.

One thing that I have noticed in my classmate’s projects that I would like to try next

would have to be adding audio and sound effects to the background of my animations. When we

peer edited our construction module projects, I had the opportunity to play with an application

that included audios from different victims and suspects related to the game. I would like to learn

how to incorporate these audios into my own application to create a fun and interactive game. I

feel that if my own application had background music and audios, the audience would be more

engaged; the sound effects would give them more of a thrill feeling while playing the game.

Ultimately, the sound sets the scene for the whole concept.

If I had the opportunity to start a project from the beginning it would have to be the

construction module project. I would choose this project because it was one of the more

challenging assignments to complete. My application consisted of a murder mystery where the

player reads evidence and a list suspects’ and guesses who they think committed the crime. If I

were to start this project from the beginning, I would not necessarily change the concept but

rather the format. I had some trouble when trying to have some objects move or disappear.

Another thing I would want to add would be the audio and sound effects. I feel that if the game

had audio clips from the suspects, the player would get a better understanding of the person and

this would benefit them in the end when they are choosing who they believe committed the

crime. I know that this game was a very entertaining and informative to the player, but I feel that

it had so much more potential if I had added some more effects and audio to it.

One goal I would like to set for myself would be to stop my procrastination and to ask

more questions. I tend to push things aside until I ultimately have no other choice than to
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complete the task given to me and this always tends to backfire on me. It backfires on me, not

because I turn in horrible work, but because I stress myself out trying to complete everything on

time. I must allow myself to have an appropriate amount of time set aside for each class so that

each assignment due is my best work. Another goal I have is to ask more questions. I have a hard

time completing assignments at time because I am afraid to ask questions when necessary, this

usually ends with me struggling to understand what is being asked of me. I need to gain the

confidence to ask questions without the fear of being talked down to; this will allow me to

produce my best bodies of work.

Conclusion

Gaining confidence in yourself and in your work allows you to blossom into the best

possible person you can be. Confidence allows you to take on new challenges and expand the

way you view the world and think. Throughout my semester in my EDT class I have expanded

my perceptions of technology; without this class I would not have the ability to take my

assignments to a new level of creativity.