Final Course Reflection

Final Course Reflection

Cati Rhodes
University of West Georgia

Before taking this course, I thought that Visual and Media Literacy would just be about
using pictures and videos in the classroom. I immediately learned it consisted of much more than
that after the first assignment required reading about the principles of visual literacy and
organizing multiple pictures that portrayed each principle. I will now be able to ensure that the

Final Course Reflection

visuals I utilize in my own instruction are strong and effective. Since the correct use of visual
media is not understood by many educators, I will be sure to share my new knowledge with my
colleagues in hopes that they better reach their students through the visual strategies and skills
that I have learned.
Visual and Media Literacy was honestly my favorite course that I have taken for my
specialist (I only have one class left to take, so theres been plenty of competition!) I probably
learned more useful information in this class that I will be able to use in my own classroom than
all of the other courses combined. The assignments that I found the most beneficial to me as a
teacher were creating online comic strips and infographics along with redesigning instructional
materials. I have already used all three of these tools with my own students, and now at twelve
years old, they are also experts with Pixton and Piktochart!
I feel that I have always tried to use digital media in my lessons, but after taking this
course and learning all of the theories and reasons that support that strategy, I will only increase
its presence during instruction. Most importantly, this course has dramatically increased my
confidence in incorporating all sorts of technology in my classroom that I never have before. I
have always enjoyed using the types of technology that I was comfortable with, but it was
limited. The combination of our countys students receiving their own Chromebooks this school
year along with all of the programs and strategies I learned in Visual and Media Literacy has
caused me to grow more as a teacher in a few months than I feel I had in the past few years.
The main challenge for me in all of my classes is that I am a full-time wife, mom, and
teacher. I also have numerous responsibilities at school outside of just teaching. I even faced two
of the most heartbreaking losses in my life in the last couple of months. I feel often that my
graduate degree instructors have never gotten the best of me due to my life moving much faster

Final Course Reflection

than it did when I was twenty-two with very few responsibilities. The only challenge particular
to this class was that the discussion posts and responding to others were monotonous. It is a task
which I have been required to complete in more classes than I can even remember, and it is often
one that I do not put my full effort into and even forget to complete sometimes. It is out of no
disrespect to the instructor- I completely understand that is the way for my classmates and I to
collaborate and participate in meaningful discussions online. However, I continue to exhaust my
time and effort on the assignments that will most benefit my students and me as an educator
trying to keep up with the latest and greatest educational technology available.
In conclusion, Visual and Media Literacy was the most beneficial, effective course I
could possibly take as a teacher. I have already used so many skills and programs with my own
students and have shared them with some of my coworkers. It is encouraging to see firsthand the
students respond so positively to the tasks that involve visual and media literacy. Not only have
their dispositions improved on even some of the most dull grammar topics I teach, but their
performance is also improving. That outcome is exactly what every educator hopes to achieve
when he or she returns to school to obtain yet another degree. The raise in our paycheck is
wonderful, but being able to create meaningful learning experiences for our students is priceless.