EDLD+5366+-+Reflection+on+Course+Embedded+Assignment

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=Reflection for Embedded Assignment =

The course embedded assignment for this course was to create a four-page newsletter. When I first received this assignment, I thought this would be an extremely easy task. I’d created newsletters for my classroom before. However, I discovered that I was doing it all wrong. After learning all the principles for creating a an attractive and engaging newsletter, I began to wonder how many parents and students read my newsletter in it’s entirety.

The most important principles to keep in mind when creating a newsletter are described below. According to our lecture from week one, "**Contrast** is the attribute of looking different from something else." Moreover it is what we notice first. As such, careful consideration needs to be placed on contrast when creating a newsletter. To show the importance of a headline story, I used larger font, illustrations, and greater page space.


 * Repetition ** is defined by lecture one as the "...means of using the same element or attribute in more than one place in the design." Furthermore, repetition shows unity and belonging. In my newsletter, I used repetition of font color and pictures throughout my newsletter to show uniformity. But, I also used this principle to show the reader the illustrations, captions, and story that belong together.

The lecture defines **alignment** as "...the attribute of arranging every element in a design to conform to some kind of horizontal and vertical visual relationship with other elements in the design." I used columns to show a vertical visual effect and the writing was set off in a horizontal format

Finally, **"Proximity** is the principle that things must be placed close to the items they belong with." I placed each story in the newsletter close to its title and pictures.

Other than CRAP, I ensured that the information the newsletter delivered was pertinent and readable to its audience. Should my readers have questions I provided them with a point of contact they can direct their questions to. I considered how to keep my readers interested, so they will read my newsletter all the way through. Busy people tend to skim through most communications. So, I kept this in mind as I created my newsletter.

I had just finished completing this assignment when I quickly used these principles to create my annual Christmas newsletter. I will continue to model my newsletters after the one I generated for this classroom.

Although this activity was not a group activity, I heavily relied on certain colleagues to help me through technology issues that presented themselves. I in turn provided them with a place to collaborate and served as the one who double-checked that all of the items required in the rubric were included in the project.

I would like to start teaching my students how to make newsletters. It would be a great way to assess what they’ve learned about a specific topic. For example, I could assign my students to collaboratively work on creating a one-page newsletter on the Battle of the Alamo. However, I’d like to offer them the opportunity to work in an electronic collaborative environment, such as Google Docs. I guess this would be a great question for the technology experts at in my district. Are there any web tools that my elementary students can use for a Microsoft Publisher type project?