Blog # 5

Hi Class!
I wanted to say that last class on february 21, 2007 was actually quite fun. I loved creating my own powerpoint and being able to use word art and create the background. I found it most useful because I work at a dealerhsip and sometimes they ask me to create coupons for our website and even flyers for advertisements, so learning some of the tips like not to use neon blue, was actually beneficial. The part of the power point that I truly got a kick out of was the examples of Bad Powerpoints. In all honesty, I've actually done a few of those things on our service website like the noise to bring attention, I never realized how annoying they are. I learned valuable information. It was a powerful presentation becuase It's now a week later and I can still remember the information. I also enjoyed the presentation when our teacher demonstrated everything we could do to make our powerpoint useful and purposeful.

As for the reading, I thought the information was very useful. I found it so amazing that 95% of all test questions only ask students to think at the lowest possible level. I didn't realize that recalling information is the lowest possible form of testing someone. After reading his breakdown it seemed so clear but before I had read it, it never dawned on me. The second area of easiest testing is comprehension, this shocked me becuase I had always thought comprehension was the hardest skill to master. Even to this day I have problems with it. Although I could see how argue your oppinion on a reading that you did was much more difficult because in a sense you are putting memorization and comprehension and life into one argument. I thought this article showed me a lot. I realize that I do ask my own reading group students to answer questions where they have to draw inferences, but I personally find that I am uncomfortable when grading questions that have open ended answers. So, I do see why grading for fact recall is the most popular way, maybe not the most beneficial for students, but definitely the most easiest for teachers. I was impressed and learned a lot from his breakdown of how to test students and strengthen their reading/ retell of stories. I found it important becuase it took me all this time to learn and realize that even though it may be easier as a teacher to ask fact retell questions it's not helping my students in the long run. THis is an article that I will definitely keep, it will come in handy for planning lesson plans in my reading group.