C14 General use of ICT
Before I started this course my degree was fundamentally based around generating and fabricating ideas using computers. As a result I feel as if my knowledge and understanding of ICT is quite good. Regardless of my course even my past experiences have revolved around using a computer in fact I can remember at a young age in primary school using computers so for my generation this is something that is almost second nature. For this reason I have marked this area of the audit as a '4' which means good knowledge. However, I am fully aware that as technology enhances this provides better and more advanced computer systems so it is inevitable that I will be required to learn new skills in the future. In addition, I will be honest and admit that I do not know every trick in the trade when it comes to using ICT so consequently I know that there will be room for development. Hopefully, my development and progression in this area will be displayed in this section of the audit.
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My initial understanding of the term 'GENERAL USE OF ICT'
I expect that this section of the audit means to show competence and that you are generally familiar with ICT. I think that it is also important to be able to use the various Microsoft office software, for instance Word, PowerPoint and Excel, I would say that as students and future teachers, these are the three main programmes that we should be able to use confidently.
Furthermore, I feel that this section could also entail the certain shortcuts that there may be and other ways in which you can display your portfolio work and documentation. In some respects CAD could be quite linked to this area because when you are using software to fabricate and display your designs, effectively you are using ICT.
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I expect that this section of the audit means to show competence and that you are generally familiar with ICT. I think that it is also important to be able to use the various Microsoft office software, for instance Word, PowerPoint and Excel, I would say that as students and future teachers, these are the three main programmes that we should be able to use confidently.
Furthermore, I feel that this section could also entail the certain shortcuts that there may be and other ways in which you can display your portfolio work and documentation. In some respects CAD could be quite linked to this area because when you are using software to fabricate and display your designs, effectively you are using ICT.
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What I have learnt and what I now understand
I knew that this area of the audit was not going to be as full with content as perhaps others, but that is not to say that I have not learnt some new skills along the way and throughout my time on the course.
Weebly is a good example of me learning new skills in ICT, I had no previous knowledge in creating an online portfolio before so I have learnt a great amount of new skills so far. I understand that it is also very important to be able to create online portfolios because we are now living in a digital age where most things involve using a computer. Therefore, this reminds me how vital it is to be able to use ICT in schools because computers are a focal point of Design and Technology. To add to this point, I think that it is still important for students to be able to create paper based portfolios because you do not want to loose traditional drawing skills and create students that are attached to this machine.
I learnt quite quickly how to use Weebly as it was relatively user friendly and the visuals helped me to understand the basic functions. The more time I spent and used this website, the more I was able to understand it and I then began to develop and become comfortable with this platform. I think this is an important principle that can be transferred to all of these areas of the audit - The more time you engage with something the more you learn and understand and become competent. I would not say that I am a pro in this but it is certainly something I find easy.
Below are a few screen shots of my online portfolios that I have created for some of my modules so far in the course.
I knew that this area of the audit was not going to be as full with content as perhaps others, but that is not to say that I have not learnt some new skills along the way and throughout my time on the course.
Weebly is a good example of me learning new skills in ICT, I had no previous knowledge in creating an online portfolio before so I have learnt a great amount of new skills so far. I understand that it is also very important to be able to create online portfolios because we are now living in a digital age where most things involve using a computer. Therefore, this reminds me how vital it is to be able to use ICT in schools because computers are a focal point of Design and Technology. To add to this point, I think that it is still important for students to be able to create paper based portfolios because you do not want to loose traditional drawing skills and create students that are attached to this machine.
I learnt quite quickly how to use Weebly as it was relatively user friendly and the visuals helped me to understand the basic functions. The more time I spent and used this website, the more I was able to understand it and I then began to develop and become comfortable with this platform. I think this is an important principle that can be transferred to all of these areas of the audit - The more time you engage with something the more you learn and understand and become competent. I would not say that I am a pro in this but it is certainly something I find easy.
Below are a few screen shots of my online portfolios that I have created for some of my modules so far in the course.
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Analysis of new gained knowledge and the next step
Before I approached this area of the audit I marked it as a '4' meaning good knowledge. I would say that I this mark is going to remain the same for now because can you be advanced in ICT when number one it is constantly changing and developing and two it is such a big area anyway. Regardless of this, so far I have gained some further experience in ICT by using Weebly and creating a Gantt chart in excel.
I quite honestly would say that I managed to pick up Weebly extremely quickly and felt as a result my learning was much faster. Whether or not this was because I was fairly used to using the computer or that for me it was merely easier than other areas I do not know but I am pleased with the progress I have made. As I have mentioned, the more time I spent on Weebly the easier it was to use and this in itself is a positive aspect for me to take away so this is yet another successful part of this earning process.
Although, I have progressed and learnt a lot from this site I did have the opportunity to use Wordpress but to be honest just found it too hard, and in some respect this is would have been a unsuccessful part of my development because if I had given it a chance I would have potentially been rewarded with more skills in this area of the audit. I am very well that Wordpress is far more complex than Weebly so if I do have time I could perhaps explore it even if it is just familiarising myself with the basic functionally.
Another successful part of my progress within this area was when I created a gantt chart using excel, to be honest I have very little experience with excel as a programme anyway as I haven't really needed to use it but I do remember having to create one on my course and I really struggled. So I thought it would be a good time to approach it again and therefore I was much more successful in doing so.I was successful because I used tutorials from YOUTUBE to help me learn. In fact the below link was really useful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMkWX6MdSWw
My next step now is to continue to develop my skills and understanding in ICT and perhaps document and new software that I have used in the process. I think it would be a good idea to find out any shortcuts or tips to make processes faster, so perhaps my further development will document this.
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Analysis of new gained knowledge and the next step
Before I approached this area of the audit I marked it as a '4' meaning good knowledge. I would say that I this mark is going to remain the same for now because can you be advanced in ICT when number one it is constantly changing and developing and two it is such a big area anyway. Regardless of this, so far I have gained some further experience in ICT by using Weebly and creating a Gantt chart in excel.
I quite honestly would say that I managed to pick up Weebly extremely quickly and felt as a result my learning was much faster. Whether or not this was because I was fairly used to using the computer or that for me it was merely easier than other areas I do not know but I am pleased with the progress I have made. As I have mentioned, the more time I spent on Weebly the easier it was to use and this in itself is a positive aspect for me to take away so this is yet another successful part of this earning process.
Although, I have progressed and learnt a lot from this site I did have the opportunity to use Wordpress but to be honest just found it too hard, and in some respect this is would have been a unsuccessful part of my development because if I had given it a chance I would have potentially been rewarded with more skills in this area of the audit. I am very well that Wordpress is far more complex than Weebly so if I do have time I could perhaps explore it even if it is just familiarising myself with the basic functionally.
Another successful part of my progress within this area was when I created a gantt chart using excel, to be honest I have very little experience with excel as a programme anyway as I haven't really needed to use it but I do remember having to create one on my course and I really struggled. So I thought it would be a good time to approach it again and therefore I was much more successful in doing so.I was successful because I used tutorials from YOUTUBE to help me learn. In fact the below link was really useful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMkWX6MdSWw
My next step now is to continue to develop my skills and understanding in ICT and perhaps document and new software that I have used in the process. I think it would be a good idea to find out any shortcuts or tips to make processes faster, so perhaps my further development will document this.
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Further Development
I learnt a little short cut and tip today from Amy! I was using 2D design and I wanted to find out the centre points for my shape. At first the circles did not line up properly so it would have meant that the piece would have not worked.
I right clicked on the attach tool and selected the 'mid point of the line/arch'.
I right clicked on the attach tool and selected the 'mid point of the line/arch'.
Then I selected the line tool and it automatically found the centre of the shapes which enabled me then to move around the circles so that they were central.
I was really pleased that I discovered this little tip and I will certainly be using it when I use this software again in the future!
I was really pleased that I discovered this little tip and I will certainly be using it when I use this software again in the future!
Today I learnt another little tick or tip whilst print screening. I didn't realise that on word you can right click on the image and save it as a picture. This was really useful for when I wanted to put images like this within my audit! On macs it is a lot more easier to print screen because you are able to select exactly what you want but with PC's you do not have that option so this is why I have found it so useful.